AHECPROGRAM

A H E C

Winter/Spring 2003

By Sharon Dabrow, MDAssociate Professor, USF Dept. of Pediatrics and Anne Maynard, MPH, CHES Asst. Director, USF AHEC

“Goodnight Moon,” “Curious George,” and “The Cat in the Hat” are all examples of classic children’s books. These tales, and the time children spend reading them together with their caregivers, create life-long memories for everyone involved. And as important as the bonding that occurs during such moments is the development associated with a child’s cognitive skills. For many children, though, story time is not a daily ritual.

Research has shown that reading aloud to children facilitates their language development and directly affects their brain growth. Unfortunately, studies have also shown that fewer than half of American parents read to their children regularly

Reach Out and Read: A Prescription for Learningand that children with reading problems have higher truancy rates, academic failure, drug dependency, teen pregnancy and dependency on welfare than children who are active readers. Pediatricians, therefore, are uniquely poised to intercede in this problem. At the University of South Florida, Associate Professor Sharon Dabrow, MD, Director of the Community Pediatrics program, promotes childhood

The Reach Out and Read Program encourages parents to read to their children. Research has shown that reading to children has positive devel-opmental health benefi ts.

See READPage 14

by Cynthia S. Selleck, ARNP, DSNProgram Director, USF AHEC

Did you know that only 1 percent of health care dollars in the United States is spent on public health efforts to improve overall health? Or that despite spending more than 14 percent of our gross national product (GNP) on health care costs, the U.S. ranked 25th

among all nations in life expectancy in the year 2000? Excessive costs, widening disparities in health status, high prevalence of chronic disease, high numbers of uninsured and inadequate investment in the continuum of health services continue to contribute to our poor state of national health. Chronic diseases are among the most common, costly and preventable of

all health problems. According to the CDC, seven in 10 Americans die each year of a chronic disease, with heart disease, cancer and stroke being the leading killers.

In an effort to place a priority on disease prevention and health

Cardiovascular Collaboration Continues in an Effort to Improve the Health of Floridians

See CARDIOPage 2

University of South Florida Area Health Education Center Program

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promotion, the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention is once again partnering with the Florida AHEC Network on a statewide cardiovascular disease initiative during 2003. Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death for Floridians due, in large part, to risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, and environmental tobacco smoke. Through the Bureau of Chronic Disease and AHEC Network collaboration this year, we are targeting the education of health professionals to address cardiovascular risk factors in the following ways:

• Conducting a statewide conference, Moving Youth to a Healthy Future: Strategies for Community and Clinical Practice, on June 5-6, 2003 at the Biltmore Hotel in Clearwater. The conference will highlight practice guidelines, best practices and community interventions in the areas of diabetes, obesity and nutrition, physical activity and policy and environmental change;

• Producing a one-hour Public Health 10 Essential Services training program focused on cardiovascular health (preventable risk factors for diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity,

tobacco use, high blood pressure and high cholesterol). This training program will be available as a home study course with continuing education credit after June 30, 2003;

• Conducting local and regional training programs on the following topics: Identifi cation, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and

Obesity (a training program for primary care providers); Patient-Centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise and Nutrition (PACE) (a module for providers); American Heart Association 2002 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Guidelines; Updated Diabetes Guidelines; and Policy and Environmental Strategies that may be developed and implemented in school and/or community settings;• Disseminating the videotaped

home study course for primary care providers entitled, Cardiovascular Disease: America’s Silent Epidemic;

• Producing a 3-hour video teleconference providing instruction for sites wishing to gain American Diabetes Association recognition as Diabetes Self-Management Education sites. (Videotapes of this teleconference which took place on February 7, 2003 are available);.

• Expanding the CVH Portal (website) developed last year to include additional information on diabetes, obesity and stroke. Access the portal via: www.fl ahec.org and click on

“AHEC Portal;”• Continuing the training of additional

Community Health Workers across the state who provide cardiovascular health education to underserved populations;

• Developing and disseminating cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular health patient education materials in Spanish and Creole;

• Distributing materials statewide on the 2003 5-A-Day Campaign, in cooperation with the Florida Interagency Food and Nutrition Council.

Further information on any of the activities listed above can be obtained from local AHECs. Individuals in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties should contact Tina Garcia at Gulfcoast North AHEC in Land O’ Lakes at (813) 631-4350. Individuals in Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties should contact Ansley Mora at (941) 361-6602.

CARDIOFrom page 1

7 in 10 Americans

die each year of a

chronic disease.

Heart disease,

cancer and stroke

are the leading

killers.

USF Area Health Education Center

3

The Florida AHEC Network web site is located at www.fl ahec.org. This dynamic and informative site contains: a staff directory of all Florida AHEC employees; a calendar of upcoming events around the state; a map showing each AHEC’s location and their service area; the online version of the computer and Internet training guide, “The Internet: A Guide to Working Smarter;” the online version of “Florida Health Careers,” a guide to information about various health careers including working conditions, training and educational requirements, salary ranges, and programs available in Florida; background information about Florida AHEC Network; a section that addresses Florida’s State Health Priorities; a page that lists the names of AHEC’s academic partners around the state and their locations in Florida; information about AHEC’s funding allocations; statistics on AHEC’s continuing education efforts for health care providers; a listing of websites providing information about topics of interest to AHEC affi liated providers; the Florida Health Careers Employment Database where jobs can be listed by recruiters and searched by applicants; a message from John O. Agwunobi, MD, MBA, Florida Secretary of Health; links to Florida’s various AHEC websites; and an Internet Portal to cardiovascular information.

The Internet Portal, supported by the Florida AHEC Network and the Florida Department of Health, works using Internet Explorer. There is an

Florida AHEC Network’s Internet PortalBy Deborah Hynes, MLS

icon in the upper right hand corner of the Portal’s opening page where IE can be downloaded. The portal provides access to cardiovascular-related materials and sites including free electronic journals and reference materials such as dictionaries, databases, evidence-based medicine tools, practice guidelines and patient education materials. Other services

include linkages to professional discussion groups, physician directories, and listings of AHEC sponsored continuing education courses. Evaluation criteria for selecting a site for inclusion on the Portal were based on accuracy, the expertise or credentials of the authors, objectivity, currency, and the scope of the information presented.

From the opening page of the Portal, click on “go.” The next page has search capabilities for Category, Resource, and Keyword. Under Category, a pull-down menu gives the choices of cardiovascular, diabetes, general, nutrition, obesity, physical activity, stroke, tobacco, and women. The choices on the pull-down menu beneath Resource include news, statistics, database, reference, tutorials/case studies, clinical guidelines, audio/visual, search engine, organization/

association, continuing education, conference, patient education, downloadable documents, book, journal, and document. Keyword allows the user to enter any word(s) and perform a search. On this page, Category, Resource, and Keyword may not be searched simultaneously; a search may only be performed by Category or Resource or Keyword.

There is also a Title bar that allows the user to click on a letter of the alphabet and retrieve all hits that begin with the selected letter. Advanced searching capabilities allow the user to search using specifi c criteria: by Restrictions; by Category and a Keyword; up to three Keywords utilizing the OR Boolean operator.

Results are returned with four criteria listed for each

hit: Restrictions criterion indicates whether the site is free or fee based, and/or whether registration is required. Category indicates the site’s primary focus (see the items listed above). Title is, of course, the title of the site retrieved. And Description gives a brief annotation of the site and its contents.

At present there are 165 sites available from within the Portal but more will be added in the future. Visit the Florida AHEC Network Internet Portal. Try out a search. Check out your results. Then click on “contact us” and give your feedback. This product was designed and developed for you, AHEC’s affi liates working with underserved populations in the state of Florida. Let us know if this product is useful for you and how it could serve your needs better.

USF Area Health Education Center

4

Gulfcoast North Area Health Education Center, Inc. Land O� Lakes, Florida

Gulfcoast North AHEC’s mission is to enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of health care professionals through community/academic educational partnerships in medically underserved areas or with medically underserved populations. Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) may be a whole county or a group of contiguous counties, a group of county or civil divisions or a group of urban census tracts in which residents have a shortage of personal health services. Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) may include groups of persons who face economic, cultural or linguistic barriers to health care.

Why should I become an AHEC preceptor?

An AHEC preceptor is a health professional who in conjunction with an AHEC program serves as a clinical faculty member for one or more health professions academic programs (medicine, nursing, public health, physician assistant, dentistry, etc.). By training health professions students at community–based rural and underserved urban areas, AHEC’s seek to expose these students to the needs, challenges and practice opportunities that exist in medically underserved areas.

Why should my agency or institution become an AHEC clinical training site?

If your institution provides health care services in a medically

underserved area within Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas County you could become an AHEC Clinical Training Site for one or more health professions academic programs (medicine, nursing, public health, physician assistant, dentistry, etc.). As an AHEC Clinical Training Site your benefi ts may include the following:

• A framed certifi cate or plaque recognizing you as an AHEC Clinical Training Site.

• Your organization may receive and benefi t from increased access to computers, Internet and e-mail services, and Library and Learning Resources free of charge.

• Your clinical staff will have increased access to quality continuing education programs. A member of the AHEC staff will contact you at the inception of your preceptorship to access you and your staff’s educational needs and to develop a timetable to address them.

• By interacting with students and their ongoing contact with their academic faculty, your clinical staff remains more current and is exposed to the most recent developments in their fi eld.

•Your organization has direct access to a pool of future providers.

Preceptors clearly value this service to the community and have said, “ I always enjoy working with students as they keep me challenged in my practice” and “The students

Preceptors NeededSharon Haber, MS

See PRECEPTORSPage 15

Language Access Workshop

April 29, 20039 am — 2:30 pm

Crown Plaza Hotel10222 Princess Palm Ave.

Tampa, FL

PresentersCarrie Tucker, Esq.

Offi ce of Civil RightsAtlanta, Georgia

Andrea Henry, CoordinatorInterpreter ServicesNorthside Hospital,

Atlanta, Georgia

Intended For:CEOs, Compliance Offi cers,

Human Resource Managers, Risk Managers and other essential personnel

in hospitals, migrant and community health centers.

This program will provide:• A clearer understanding of the latest

expectations from the Offi ce of Civil Rights

• Practical steps necessary to meet these requirements

• An opportunity to discuss specifi c challenges

• Follow up with your local AHEC as well as presenters

Sponsored by:USF AHEC Program Offi ce

Gulfcoast North AHECGulfcoast South AHECUSF Health Education

& Training Center

For more information, contactwww.gsahec.org

or 1-800-967-0807

5

Gulfcoast North Area Health Education Center, Inc. Land O� Lakes, Florida

While today’s job market is highly competitive, currently nursing is one career that is in great demand. Recent estimates from the Health Resources and Services Administration suggest that the state of Florida urgently requires more nurses and by the year 2006 projections suggest that 34,000 additional nurses will be needed. Gulfcoast North Area Health Education Center (GNAHEC) is attempting to address this shortage by actively promoting nursing as a career in our Health Career Camps.

Health Career Camps: Addressing the Nursing ShortageBy Christina Mathis, BS and Sharon Haber, MS

See CAMPSPage 15

On November 14th, 2002, the Crystal River High School Health Academy had its fi rst Cardiovascular Health Screening Event. This amazing event invited the community of Hernando County residents to have various assessments of their heart wellness evaluated. The extraordinary talents of these high caliber students were exhibited through drawing blood for testing cholesterol levels, measuring heart pulses, and performing electrocardiogram (EKG) testing. As the community residents began the health screening process, the students collected current health information using questionnaires about each of the participants who were screened. Risk factors such as family history of heart disease, smoking, and other precarious lifestyle behaviors were identifi ed at this time.

The Crystal River Health Academy students were enthusiastic

High School Health Academy Saves LivesBy: Kristina “Tina” Garcia, MHS and

astonishing. They gave a warm welcome to the Hernando County community as they examined different functions of the participants’ hearts and cardiovascular conditions. After laboratory results of the heart examinations were evaluated, these cardiovascular assessments alerted many people of their elevated risk for heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. As one of the students was reviewing a

Recently, GNAHEC completed its 14th Health Careers Camp with students from all three high schools

See ACADEMYPage 15

Crystal River Health Academy Students screened community residents for cardiovascular health.

participant’s test results, she noticed the extreme possibility of this person’s

Lily Zambrano, coordinator of the USF College of Nursing Lab, uses a computer model to dem-onstrate proper IV insertion.

in Hernando County. The 28 students visited a variety of sites where nurses could be seen working in many different aspects of the profession. The students have regular contact with one aspect of the nursing fi eld in their high school every day. The three teachers who teach health education in Hernando County, Chris Anstead from Springstead HS, Candace Callaghan from Central HS, and Bernadette Cashiotta from Hernando HS are all nurses who have chosen to become high school teachers.

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Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, Inc. Sarasota, Florida

How do you go about learning more about a health care career? You might consider an internship with your local AHEC. At GSAHEC internships are offered to interested students at local health departments, hospitals, and even local clinics. You can shadow everyone from Surgeons to Nurses.

Still not sure? Well, don’t take my word for it. Let’s hear what Cierre Turner, who was an intern this summer, thought of her internship:

Q: Where did your internship take place?A: At the Sarasota County Health Department.

Q: What were your career interests before your internship?A: I wanted (and still do) to become a Nurse Midwife, the

An Interview with an InternBy Lance Malone, BS

internship helped clarifi ed what I want to do with my life.

Q: Looking back, what did you think of your internship in general?

A: It was fun and defi nitely a learning experience.

Q: How did the internship help you to set goals?A: I am going to fi nish high school…and I’d like to start in the LPN program at SCTI next year as a junior. Then

I’ll attend MCC for two years and go on to USF and become a Nurse Midwife.

Q: What were three job responsibilities or duties you encountered in your internship this summer?

See INTERNPage 14

Cierre Turner

The increase of Hispanics and other ethnic minorities, in Florida and the USA, that do not speak English has been well documented by the 2000 Census. The number of Hispanics more than doubled in Sarasota and Manatee Counties between 1990 and 2000 and in DeSoto County they comprise more than 25% of the total population. In rural areas particularly, Hispanics are unlikely to speak English well. Many of them are farm workers, working long hours with limited transportation. Additionally, in Florida there has been an increase in the number of immigrants from Eastern Europe and Asia, also with language access issues.

Healthcare providers are faced with the dilemma of how to provide care when there is no common language. Typically our health care institutions use bilingual employees (if there are any), friends, family, or innocent by-standers to interpret for their clients. This ad hoc approach may limit the quality of the services provided, ignore confi dentiality guidelines and frustrate the provider and the patients alike.

Trained interpreters are needed to provide effective language access. Even bilingual staff needs screening for bilingual capacity and training to provide quality interpretation. Bilingual staff needs support to address and prevent burn-out. Monolingual staff needs education to understand need, policy and practices for using bilingual staff to interpret.

The Offi ce of Civil Rights expects that any agency that receives any Federal funds provide adequate language access for their

Language Access For All: How do we do it?By Joanie Alexander, MSPH

limited English profi cient (LEP) clients, The Offi ce of Civil Rights has produced executive orders and further clarifi cation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and is becoming more aggressive each year about enforcement of this law. The President’s executive order of 2000 and the federal ruling of 2002 spell out what is required of all agencies

receiving federal dollars, whether directly or indirectly, who serve LEP clients.

Find out more about this topic at our “Language Access Workshop” and learn about the latest compliance requirements of the Offi ce of Civil

See LANGUAGE Page 13

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Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, Inc. Sarasota, Florida

In 2002 the USF School of Social Work conducted a needs assessment at Manatee County Rural Health Services’ clinics in the Bradenton area to research the clinics’ needs in regard to social work services and assess the feasibility of training social work students at the community and migrant health centers. The assessment showed that the Lawton Chiles Children & Family Health Care Center would be a perfect setting to place social work students. The benefi ts would be invaluable to both students and to the many clients who bring their children for care at this busy pediatric clinic.

In response to the fi ndings, Gulfcoast South AHEC and the USF School of Social Work have teamed up with Manatee County Rural Health Services to develop a Social Work Field Unit at the Lawton Chiles Children & Family Health Care Center. The collaboration is an exciting new effort that brings many opportunities for social work students to experience the diverse needs of an underserved population, while providing vital assistance to clients thereby and enhancing the clinic’s range of services.

The Gulfcoast South AHEC/USF Social Work fi eld unit has one full time USF faculty located at the clinic and currently one Master’s of Social Work intern, Fernando Fajardo, and one Bachelor’s of Social Work intern, Tenia Adnerson. The unit offi cially opened on January 6, 2003, but much work has already been done to arrange the logistics and prepare for the students arrival. Susan Taylor, LCSW,

GSAHEC and USF School of Social Work Present the New Social Work Field UnitBy Patrice M. Burnett, BSHE

the fi eld instructor for the unit, has been busy working with the clinic staff to ensure a successful implementation of social work presence. Under Susan’s supervision the students will be meeting with clients to provide case management and counseling services. The addition of social work completes the interdisciplinary team to assess client needs and increase the well being of families. The wellness baby and family group program has been established as well as a chronic care model pilot program for the early identifi cation of ADHD, which is the

fi rst of its kind in the area.We anticipate great success

with this effort and are enthusiastically looking forward to a tremendous partnership that serves the community and encourages social work students to consider and learn about the special needs of this population.

Gulfcoast South AHEC/USF Social Work Field Unit. Pictured are Fernando Fajardo, MSW, Intern, and Susan Taylor, LCSW, Field Instructor.

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Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, Inc. Sarasota, Florida

Last year, GSAHEC was charged with developing a Community Health Worker Program to focus on cardiovascular disease prevention in underserved areas. Community Health Workers can provide the link between providers of health services and hard to reach people in the community. The perfect opportunity to provide this link fell into our lap.

Ansley Mora, BA, Community Education Coordinator with GSAHEC, was introduced to Sister Elaine Davia, the Clinical Manager of Bon Secour’s Clínica de Ayuda in Arcadia. Arcadia is in DeSoto County, the 4th poorest county in Florida with a Hispanic/Latino population of more than 25%.

Helping Others Help OthersSister Elaine had grant funding to provide community health worker training on various topics but was having diffi culty fi nding time. Ansley met with Sister Elaine and assisted in advertising, coordinating, and implementing health education sessions for the Camp Health Aide Program. The eight session program

By Ansley Mora, BA

ran from August 26 through October 21, 2002.

Gulfcoast South AHEC would like welcome Paula Murray to our offi ce. Paula joined us in May 2002. She holds a BS Degree in Information Systems Management and has worked in a variety of environments during the past 20 years. She began her career at Westinghouse, specializing in automated project planning. She managed an offi ce in Washington DC working on project planning and risk assessment for the NASA Space Shuttle Program. Recently she managed a growing Sarasota dental practice.

Paula’s extensive small offi ce experience made her the perfect offi ce manager for

GSAHEC Welcomes Paula MurrayGSAHEC. Paula has been busy getting acquainted with the AHEC concept and programs, updating our computer system and developing our website. She has already proven to be a valuable asset. Some of her personal interests include home decorating, jewelry making, gardening and golf.

Welcome Paula, we are delighted to have you aboard!

See HEALTH WORKERPage 13

GSAHEC is proud to introduce our new website at www.gsahec.org. We believe our website will prove to be a powerful marketing tool which will give us the capability to market our services in a cost effective manner while reaching a larger audience.

Several months ago we purchased the On-line Database Product from GNAHEC, which was featured in the Summer/Fall 2002 edition of the Access Newsletter. We are now able to manage our continuing education programs on-line and recently added the capability to process credit card

GSAHEC hits the road on the Information Super Highway!by Paula Murray, BS

See WEBSITEPage 12

Nine of the eleven proud Camp Health Aides that graduated from the Bon Secour�s Clínica de Ayuda Camp Health Aid Program in Arcadia

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Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, Inc. Sarasota, Florida

We don’t think twice about the drinking water that fl ows from our kitchen faucet, or the apple that goes into our child’s lunch—we don’t consider that these two rather ordinary things could actually be a medium for a bioterrorism threat. Until now…

Since September 11, we have become aware that our world is vulnerable and that the health care community has a social responsibility for preparing its citizens for such scenarios. That preparation was heightened with the help of the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the United Nations Association and Gulfcoast South AHEC. At its second UNA Global Health Initiative Seminar on October 17, 2002, at the Sudakoff Center at the University of South Florida/New College, Sarasota, the United Nations Association invited a panel of local a national experts to present on the timely topics of biological warfare and the negative implication of rapid global growth. The topics were chosen overwhelmingly from an interest survey that participants completed at last year’s initial seminar.

The expert panel included Dr. Jacquline Cattani, PhD, Director for the Center for Biological Defense, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, an expert on global terrorism, Dr. Mark Magenheim, medical executive director of the

Things Are Not Always What They SeemBy Charlene Chirillo, RN, BSN Sarasota County Health Department

and a member of the Sarasota Security Task Force, who acted as moderator, and Dr. Jane Zarzecki from Coastal Behavioral Healthcare who shared her insights on the mental health after affects of biological warfare, most notably post- traumatic stress disorder. Finally, the topic of unsustainable population growth was addressed by

Mr. Werner Fornos, president of the population Institute in Washington D.C.

When considering who should be invited, planners agreed it was those that were the fi rst line of defense against a potential threat. That included city and county offi cials, physicians and hospital staff, police and fi re offi cials, social workers, church administration, and the Red Cross. Each would play a signifi cant, yet unique role in the initial response to an attack, but would also need to act collaboratively, as one functioning body working together for the best outcome.

Seminar participant Dr. Jacqeline Cattani noted that biological weapons

have a long history, citing the use by British agents of smallpox infected blankets given or traded to American Indians who were aiding the French in the mid-18th century. She shared a chart differentiating between defensive, (those considered acceptable) and unacceptable bioweapons research, along with a classifi cation system for biological weapons using the ease of dissemination

and the virulence as determining criteria.

Dr. Jane Zarzecki spoke on the mental trauma that is an end result of bioterrorism. She stressed the need to develop a community and national consensus on what to do to prevent or respond to this trauma in the light of an attack. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder was discussed at length. It is considered often to be the most common response,

but not everyone directly affected by an attack will experience it. She stated it has very real physical symptoms that can be debilitating, thus, maintaining close connections to family and community and creating a sense of hope or optimism is important in preventing it. She states, “if terrorism continues or increases, we will need a system to buttress those protective factors.”

Dr. Wernor Fornos focused on the task of increasing population growth and the cost to our national environment and resources. He sees a relationship between the desolate and hopeless conditions that the resulting rapid growth causes and the rise in terrorism. Many of these impoverished nations

Left to right: Jane Zarzecki, Werner Fornos, Mark Magenheim, Mona Jais (UNA member, Co-chair Global Health), Scott Behotegrey (Board Member), Jacqueline Cattani (Past President), Wade Matthews (Board Mem-ber and Past President)

See BIODEFENSEPage 12

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Diversity Initiatives Program by Doris Campbell, PhD, ARNP, FAAN

The AHEC Program Offi ce, University of South Florida, is pleased to welcome Ericka L. Moore in the position of Coordinator of Health Education and Training. Mrs. Moore holds the BS degree in Biology from Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri and the MPH from Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA. She comes to us from Boston where she was employed by the Boston Area Health Education Center as a middle school program coordinator and offi ce associate, and with the Chelsea Department of Public Health, Chelsea, MA. She has also had experiences with Americorps and in organizing a variety of youth related programs. Mrs. Moore is employed part-time during the current semester. She is working with Dr. Doris Campbell, Director of the USF-AHEC Diversity Initiatives Program, and a professor in the Colleges of Nursing and Public Health who will be retiring in June.

The Diversity Initiatives Program addresses a primary missions of the AHEC Program offi ce: to increase access, availability and quality of primary care services in medically underserved areas through the education of a diverse cadre of health care professionals. The program recruits students who are underrepresented in the health professions, into health profession careers. A specifi c aim is to develop a pipeline of academically prepared, confi dent and informed ethnic and minority high school and college students who are interested and motivated to pursue professional education in one of the health professions but who may need help in developing strategies to help them

“Comings and Goings”achieve their goals.

The program also seeks the participation of students from rural and or other underserved communities. Research indicates that ethnic minority health professionals are likely to return to their own or similar communities to practice in areas that are medically underserved.

Other projects are aimed at the retention of pre-medical, nursing and other pre-professional students through activities that provide personal, instrumental and supportive services while the students are enrolled at USF. We have enjoyed a high level of cooperative and collaborative support from our Colleges, faculty, staff and other students for Diversity Initiatives programs and events.

The USF-AHEC Diversity Initiatives program will continue to seek additional sources of funding to support other projects (e.g. Test taking skills, applying to a professional school, etc.) and Ericka is being oriented to student resources that are available through the AHEC Program Offi ce, our AHEC Centers and the University.

Dr. Campbell has been with the USF AHEC program since 1995. She has been involved in nursing education, practice, and research for over forty years and is looking forward to a full and rewarding retirement.

Dr. Campbell and Mrs. Moore are currently in the process of planning for

upcoming ACCESS DAY programs scheduled for April 10 and April 17, 2003 and for the AHEC Health Professions Summer Academy to be

held on the main campus of USF, June 8-21, 2003. These two programs have been quite successful over the past several years. They provide information about various health professions and what opportunities are projected in a variety of health careers at the professional level, how to apply and succeed in college, sources of fi nancial aid and other resources. We are now

beginning to see a number of students who formerly participated in some of our Diversity Initiatives activities, currently enrolled as students at USF or elsewhere as pre-health professions students or actually enrolled in a health professions college We sincerely believe that such programs might motivate underrepresented ethnic/minority high school students and students from underserved communities who might have felt that becoming a doctor, nurse, or other health professional was a completely unrealistically goal.

Ericka Moore may be reached at (813) 974-5973 and/or by e-mail at emoore@hsc.usf.edu.

Ericka L. Moore, MPH

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Health Education & Training Centers Update by Gloria Vales, BS, RN

As of October, our HETC service area offi cially expanded to include portions of Manatee and DeSoto counties. Gulfcoast South AHEC has been doing a great job of working with the immigrant and minority populations within these counties for several years, so it’s nice to be able to help out with a few extra dollars. Medical Spanish instruction and Medical Interpreter Training are two activities supported, in part, by this new “Southwest HETC.”

The USF HETC Advisory Committee had the task once again this Fall of selecting projects, targeting immigrant and minority populations in Hillsborough and Pasco counties, for small amounts of funding support. Check out brief information on three such projects below:

Catholic Mobile Medical Services continues to receive signifi cant press coverage. The work that Sister Sarah Proctor, PA is doing with a cadre of volunteer physicians and nurses on the mobile van has been written up in both the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times. Students from the Colleges of Medicine and Nursing work with Sister Sarah and with the volunteer providers on the van as well as in student-organized health fairs. Through these activities, students learn about the migrant farmworker community while providing needed services.

The Domestic Violence

Prevention Project of the Hills-borough County Health Department continues to utilize HETC support

to conduct community workshops targeted at women. Jeannine Martin coordinates this successful project for the Health Promotion and Education Department under W.D. Sims.

The USF ENLACE is receiving HETC support for the Yes we can program at Pierce Middle School.

HETC Expands its Service Area to Manatee & DeSoto Counties

Students participating in the USF ENLACE “Yes, we can” program at Pierce Middle School. This program incorporates activities designed to keep Latino stu-dents interested in school and give them encourage-ment to continue on to college.

This program incorporates activities designed to keep Latino students interested in school and give them encouragement to continue on to college. Yes we can is a collaboration between with USF, Hillsborough Community College and Hillsborough County Schools.

12

have a large population that is under twenty years of age, creating ripe conditions to become easily infl uenced by extremist terrorist doctrines.

After all the individual presentations were given, there was an opportunity for a panel discussion

BIODEFENSEFrom page 9

payments (MasterCard, Visa and Discover).

In addition, we have customized our website to provide information on who we are and what we do. Detailed information pertaining too many of our programs is available; including, but not limited to the following:

• Osteoporosis Bone Zone and Bone Builders Programs

• Community Health Partnership ProgramCommunity Health Workers

• Spanish Arthritis Self Management ProgramIn partnership with the Senior Friendship Centers, Inc.

• The Florida Culturally Competent Rural Health Professionals ProjectProject Summary

• GSAHEC Medical & Educational LibraryAvailable free of charge to local health professionals, students, health educators and teachers in GSAHEC’s medically underserved areas.

• Health Careers Summer Camp 2003Request for Proposals

We are very pleased with the evolution of our site. We hope you

WEBSITEFrom page 8

will visit often, as new information is added regularly. Be sure to forward your comments and suggestions to my attention at pmurray@gsahec.org Happy motoring…

GSAHEC�s new website, featuring links to pages detailing many of their programs. The site is located at http://www.gsahec.org.

with the premise of “where do we go from here.” There was a valuable exchange of implementation strategies given, as well as a genuine a sense of commitment from this interdisciplinary group. The seminar concluded with a positive feeling of

hope… a sentiment that if this is to be the world that we now live in, then we will be prepared and collaboratively work together for a better tomorrow.

13

Rights and how we can help you meet those requirements.

Bring questions such as:

• Who will pay for interpreters? • Where do we fi nd trained

interpreters? • Can volunteer interpreters meet

the need?• Our system works now. Do we

have to change it?• Why don’t they learn English?• Who is liable for interpreting

errors?

The USF AHEC and HETC programs will present the “Language Access Workshop” on April 29, 2003 in Tampa. The target audience is administrators, department heads, compliance offi cers, volunteer

coordinators, quality assurance and human resource personnel from area hospitals, health departments and community clinics. Carrie Tucker, an attorney from the Offi ce of Civil Rights (OCR), will explain who is covered, keys to compliance, and how the law is enforced. She will present promising practices and where to get technical assistance. Andrea Henry, Interpretation Services Coordinator at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, will address start up issues and maintenance of an in-house interpreter program. How do you get buy in from the necessary people at your institution? How do you collect data about your LEP client population, match need to service and maintain an effective, useful data system? How do you provide training of staff and

LANGUAGEFrom page 6

interpreters and where does the money come from? Both presenters will fi eld questions and discussion in small groups and at the fi nal plenary session. AHEC and HETC staff will also be available for support services at this meeting and for follow up.

LEP clients require access to health care and they won’t learn English any faster than we would learn their language. Let’s get on the band wagon before we get pushed (in preparation for the workshop you can view OCR case summaries at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/selectacts/lep.html). For more information and/or for registration to the workshop please contact Joanie Alexander: e-mail: jalexand@hsc.usf.edu, tel.1-800-967-0807, fax (941) 361-6612.

In another stroke of luck, Tara Jones, ESL (English for Speakers of other Languages) teacher at the Arcadia Family Service Center, contacted Ansley. Tara had more than 20 Hispanic/Latina women who wanted to attend the training but felt they would learn more if the classes were taught in Spanish. Together with Sister Elaine, GSAHEC offered the fi rst Spanish language Camp Health Aide Program in DeSoto County.

The program covered children’s health, occupational health, adult illnesses (i.e. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke), women’s health, pregnancy, prenatal care, nutrition, basic fi rst aid, and HIV/AIDS and

HEALTH WORKERFrom page 8

STD’s. The average class size was 18. Eleven participants graduated as Camp Health Aides (i.e. Community Health Workers). When asked why these Camp Health Aides wanted to promote health, they responded, “…out of necessity…I must share what I know,” “Because I feel satisfaction when I help other people to improve their health and their quality of life.” The Camp Health Aides discussed health topics with approximately 10 of their peers each week. In total, 532 contacts were made by Camp Health Aides and 45 small group presentations were provided on various health topics. 12 of these covered cardiovascular disease.

With this number of outreach education contacts, the regular attendance, and seeing the pride of these students, we knew we had stumbled onto a great partnership. Winter sessions have been scheduled beginning January 13, 2003.

14

reading through her involvement in the Reach Out and Read pediatric literacy program.

A team of pediatricians and early childhood educators from Boston City Hospital founded Reach Out and Read (ROR) in 1989. The mother of two, Dr. Dabrow established a program at the University of Florida where she was Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the early 90’s. She and her family moved to Tampa in 1995 when she joined the USF Department of Pediatrics. By 1997, Dr. Dabrow had founded a Reach Out and Read program at USF. Today, she serves as the medical director and regional trainer for the Tampa Bay ROR Coalition.

ROR provides books to children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. The program has three objectives:

To distribute books to children ages six months to six years at each of their checkups;

To provide instruction and guidance to parents regarding the importance of reading and its positive affects on a child’s development; and

To utilize volunteer readers in waiting rooms to read to children and demonstrate skills to parents.

Through guidance from pediatricians, nurse practitioners and offi ce nurses, parents are taught ways to support their children’s early literacy development. Reading aloud is “prescribed” to parents as part of their child’s daily routine.

ROR has established over 1,500 national sites. Dr. Dabrow and other key ROR leaders are in the process of organizing Florida’s sixty-nine programs into a statewide coalition. Thanks to her efforts and those of program coordinator Lizzie Abbott,

there are ten active ROR sites in the Tampa Bay area.

To qualify as a ROR site, at least fi fty percent of a facility’s patients must be low income. Along with the University of South Florida Department of Pediatrics 17 Davis Clinic, other Tampa Bay ROR sites include the Suncoast Community Health Centers (Ruskin and Plant City) and Health Resource Alliance (Dade City), Community Health Centers of Pinellas (Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center, Women and Children’s and Mother and Child Care), All Children’s Pediatric Clinic, the Lawton Chiles Clinic in Bradenton and Tampa General Hospital’s Genesis Clinic.

As with most non-profi t programs, continued funding for ROR is a big challenge, says Dr. Dabrow.

Between eight and ten thousand dollars per year is needed for a clinic to maintain a Reach Out and Read program. While the National Reach Out and Read program does provide sustainability grants, additional monies must be obtained. For the past two years, AHEC has helped support Dr. Dabrow’s role as the program’s medical director and contributed to funding a program assistant. Last year, CVS Pharmacy awarded the Tampa Bay ROR Coalition a $20,000 grant and this year donated 6,000 books in English and Spanish for distribution.

If you would like to donate funds, resources or time to this worthwhile program, please contact Dr. Dabrow or Program Coordinator Lizzie Abbott at (813) 259-8701.

READFrom page 1

INTERNFrom page 6

A: Checking in and weighing new patients, putting together new fi les for patients in O.B., calling back patients, and putting together information packets for the new mothers.

Q: Is this an internship you would recommend to a friend, and what did you like best about it? A: Yes, and meeting all new people was the best part.

As you can see Cierre had fun and she learned a lot about being a nurse. All the interns this summer had a great time and many are looking forward to next summer or even interning during the school year. The interns may count their hours as volunteer

time, which almost all college and scholarship applications require. If you are interested or perhaps know a high school student who would be interested in participating in the GSAHEC internship program call Lance Malone at (941) 361-6602 or check out our web site http://www.gsahec.org.

15

The fi rst day of camp, at All Children’s Hospital, the students

observed and interacted with neonatal nurses like Kim Harmon, RN. These nurses care for the sickest newborns, particularly

those born prematurely. At Bayfront Medical Center,

the students were able to interact with Nancy Hunter, RN. Nancy is a fl ight nurse who accompanies the helicopters to area emergencies and transport victims to hospitals while sustaining their lives. Finally the students visited the Nursing Lab at the University of South Florida. Here the students encountered nurses who chose to be college professors, educating and supervising students studying to become nurses. USF was fascinating for the students because they were able to participate in a variety of hands on activities such as learning how to check each other’s blood pressure and with the aid of computers learning how to properly insert IV’s.

Along with visiting the nursing sites, the Hernando County campers were able to learn about many other health careers from their extraordinary visits to the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine, College of Public Health and the Museum of Science and Industry where the students participated in dissecting a sheep’s

CAMPSFrom page 5

are often helpful in researching a topic of interest as well as being up to date on the latest information in their fi eld.” If you are a health care professional working in a medically underserved area or with a medically underserved population in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas or Hillsborough Counties, and are interested in giving back to your community, in helping to develop an interest in serving the medically underserved population and are either currently available to precept a student or want more information about this program, please call Sharon Haber or Alice McKinney at Gulfcoast North AHEC (813) 631-4350. We look forward to hearing from you!

AHEC Program DirectorDr. Cynthia S. Selleck

Gulfcoast North Center Di rec torJohn Wills, MS, LD/N

Gulfcoast South Center DirectorEdna Apostol, MPH

AHEC Program Assistant and Access EditorBillie Jo Whyte

AHEC ACCESS is published for members of the health care com mu ni ty serving our nine counties: Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Man a tee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Char lotte.

Send correspondence to:

Billie Jo WhyteAccess EditorAHEC Program Offi ceCollege of Medicine, MDC 7612901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.Tampa, FL 33612-4799

(813) 974-5782bwhyte@hsc.usf.edu

PRECEPTORSFrom page 4

risk for heart attack. After this participant was notifi ed, he took this information to his physician. In turn, the physician said this priceless information saved his life. the students were able to provide signifi cant, life-saving information to the citizens about their cardiovascular wellness. Gulfcoast North AHEC, Inc. was informed that these cardiovascular assessments alerted many people of their elevated risk for heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. As one of the students was reviewing a participant’s test results, she noticed the extreme possibility of this person’s risk for heart attack. After this participant was notifi ed, he took this information to his physician. In turn, the physician said this priceless information saved his life.

ACADEMYFrom page 5

Nancy Hunter, RN

pluck which includes the trachea, heart and lungs. For more information regarding our Health Career Camps or information on exploring a career in nursing, please contact Christina Mathis at (813) 631-4350.

16

Area Health Education Center Program College of Medicine, MDC 7612901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Tampa, FL 33612-4799

Non Profi t Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit NO. 1632Tampa, Florida

For more event information, contact the AHEC in your service area or visit us on the web at http://hsc.usf.edu/ahec Gulfcoast North AHEC: 1-888-546-2432 Gulfcoast South AHEC: 1-800-967-0807

AHECPROGRAM

Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, Inc. (GSAHEC), the Florida Department of Health and the Senior Friendship Centers, Inc. are collaborating to implement the Spanish Arthritis Self-Management Program (SASMP) in GSAHEC’s service area.

The SASMP was developed by Stanford University and uses a “train-the-trainer” model specifi cally designed for the Hispanic community. The program seeks to prepare master trainers and lay leaders to teach (in Spanish) the six-week, 12-hour course to participants from the Hispanic community. The goal is to increase the arthritis education to Hispanics so they can actively manage their disease and improve their quality of life.

The Spanish Arthritis Self-Management ProgramBy Edna Apostol, MPH

The course focuses on self-management and problem solving so that participants are better equipped to deal with the challenges presented by their condition. The course includes basic information about arthritis, relaxation techniques for pain and stress reduction, exercise suggestions, an overview of available medications, communication and skill building, coping and problem solving strategies.

Staff from the University of Stanford Arthritis Center facilitated the fi rst training of lay leaders and masters trainers on November 12-15, 2002 at the Senior Friendship Centers, Inc. in Sarasota. Fourteen instructors from GSAHEC’s area and four from Alabama and Wisconsin completed

the training. Vicky Recio, from the Senior Friendship Centers, Inc. will coordinate the implementation of ten courses between January-June 2003.

Participants at Spanish Arthritis Self-Managment training