PROGRAMS

Historically, the California AHEC Program has developed new programs, augmented existing ones, and convened community, academic, and clinical leaders to implement improvements in education and clinical services. Many activities established in past years of the Program are now institutionalized and self sufficient; Bachelor and Masters level nursing programs, Family Medicine residency programs, the College of Allied Health at Charles Drew University and the Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center program. The AHEC is recognized for development of training programs for the state’s diverse health care workforce in underserved communities and for innovation, initiation, facilitation and early investment.

2010 - 2011 AHEC Program areas:

  • Community-based education for health professionals working in Clinics and Community Health Centers
  • Community-based training for health professions students and residents
  • Teaching health professions students to present health education information to communities and clinic patients
  • Health professions and higher education information and experiences for K-12 students

In 2009-2010 the California AHEC provided health professions education in the following program areas:

Continuing education for practicing health professionals

Over 5,000 practicing HPs participated in trainings on subjects such as disaster preparedness, quality improvement and chronic disease management

Community based clinical experiences for health professions students and residents

Over 250 community training sites

Over 1800 HP students trained

85% of training took place in underserved sites

Teaching health professions students to present health education information to communities and clinic patients

24 FM residents trained in adolescent medicine ran obesity clinic and peer education program in inner city high school

10 HP students trained in geriatrics presented health education programs to elderly in US-Mexico border region

80 Medical students trained in community medicine and presented health education materials to community

Health professions and higher education information and experiences for K-12 studentsOver 10,000 K-12 students contacted

Over 8,000 students participated in programs

72% of those trained are ethnically diverse

Cal-SEARCH

The California AHEC, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) partnered to develop and administer the California Students and Residents Experiences in Community Health (Cal-SEARCH) Program. Clinics, Preceptors and Mentors are recruited to host and teach students and health professions students and primary care residents apply for 4-8 week rotations in underserved areas. In addition students complete a community project in the clinic where they are placed that reflects a unmet need in the area. For more information visit www.oshpd.ca.gov/hwdd/cal-search/

 

CAL-PEN

From 2003-2008,the statewide AHEC sponsored the California Preparedness Education Network (cal-PEN), a federal initiative originally funded to educate health professionals in disaster preparedness. A natural activity for local AHECs is the rapid dissemination of information framed to fit local needs. Cal-PEN trained over 25,000 health professionals, most practicing in underserved areas. Cal-PEN offers four one-hour programs on disaster preparedness on University of California Television (UCTV) available by cable, satellite, and through the UCTV website. Programs are web-archived and will be available to download to PCs or MP3 technology.

For more information or to access the programs

www.cal-pen.org