Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program - University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) Research Institute, Inc, MSN 1039, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66103-2937; kumc.edu Organization Type: Education Project Director: Dave Burnett, Assoc Dean, KUMC dburnett@kumc.edu; 913-588-9499 Proposed Workforce Training Track: #4, Case Management Staff &/or Respiratory Therapist Target Service Areas: Labette, Seward, Saline, KS Counties Proposed Network: Labette Community College (CC); Seward County CC; KU School of Nursing (SON), Salina; KUMC, KC Total funding requested: $1,545,000 Capacity to serve rural underserved: The KUMC Respiratory Therapy (RT) program has built and maintained articulation agreements with several Kansas CC RT programs. The KUMC SON has a rural campus and has formalized a KU-CC Partnership where students in accredited CC nursing programs simultaneously complete ADN and BSN degrees. These RT Articulation and RN Partnership programs demonstrate capacity to collaborate in educating students in rural areas. Students often work where they are trained, thereby benefitting rural underserved populations. Project Description: Many patients with COVID-19 report a post-COVID-19 syndrome, expressed as Long-COVID that may affect multiple body systems with persistent symptoms lasting > 6 months after COVID-19 diagnosis.[1,2] Symptoms include fatigue and shortness of breath, leading to poorer pulmonary function, physical activity, performance of daily activities, and quality of life. Treating the multiple systems affected by Long-COVID requires a multispecialty approach using pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).[3] Despite the need for a multispecialty PR approach, limited access to specialty healthcare and workforce shortages, are barriers in rural areas. Most (73%) rural U.S. counties lack an outpatient PR program.[4] Rural communities also face workforce shortages.[5] In Kansas, 90 counties (86%) are designated as Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Multidisciplinary healthcare providers with specialty training to support Long-COVID treatment are needed to serve residents in rural areas. We will increase rural public health workforce capacity in Kansas by developing a sustainable program focused on expanding PR skills among RT/RN students and clinicians, in rural areas in Kansas, to meet the health needs of rural communities affected by COVID-19, especially those dealing with Long-COVID. We will collaborate with professional organizations to promote health by building on the current PR certification with Long-COVID content and using telehealth to educate and disseminate findings. The Network will: 1. Develop I-CAN, an Interprofessional COVID-19 Academic Network, which is comprised of an Academic Advisory Council of rurally located, community colleges and baccalaureate programs educating RT/RN students, and a Clinical Advisory Council of rural clinical facilities, where RT/RN clinicians collaborate in treating patients with Long-COVID and support educational experiences for local RT/RN students. 2. In collaboration with AARC/AACVPR, develop content related to Long-COVID to supplement modules in the current PR certificate. 3. Develop partnerships with rural community hospitals for I-CAN implementation among RT/RN clinicians. 4. Refine interprofessional education and practice for RT/RN students and RT/RN staff to enhance care for individuals with Long-COVID, in rural communities. 5. Increase access to quality Long-COVID care for rural populations, by training RT/RN providers and using telehealth. 6. Disseminate findings of enhanced PR training for Long-COVID patients among RT/RN students, RT/RN clinicians, and other communities of interest, using telehealth. Funding Preference: KUMC is requesting a funding preference based on a focus on primary care, wellness, and prevention strategies. Special Consideration: KUMC is requesting special consideration based on the inclusion of a signed MOA/U for all network partners included in Attachment 11.
