West River Area Health Education Center

CONNECTING STUDENTS TO CAREERS, PROFESSIONALS TO COMMUNITIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO BETTER HEALTH.

WRAHEC SCHOLARS RURAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM:THIS IS A HRSA-SPONSORED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN SUPPLEMENTING THEIR EDUCATION BY GAINING ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN RURAL AND/OR UNDERSERVED URBAN SETTINGS. THIS IS A LONGITUDINAL PROGRAM WITH INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULA TO IMPLEMENT A DEFINED SET OF CLINICAL, DIDACTIC, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ACTIVITIES. ALL EXPERIENTIAL OR CLINICAL TRAINING IS CONDUCTED IN RURAL AND/OR UNDERSERVED URBAN SETTINGS.

WEST RIVER AHEC HEALTHCARE CAREER EXPLORATION EVENTS (GRADES 8-12):DURING THE FALL OF 2021 WRAHEC HOSTED HOSA FALL LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR 32 STUDENTS AND PARTICIPATED AT A NURSING EXPO WHERE WE TALKED TO OVER 100 PEOPLE (STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS) ABOUT NURSING SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH DAKOTA. WRAHEC DISPLAYED THE INFLATABLE BRAIN AT THE SCHOOL OF MINES "MOLE DAY" FOR 75 RURAL WESTERN SD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND AT THE WDT SCRUBS CAMP ATTENDED BY 100 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. FINALLY, WE PRESENTED TO 82 HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE STUDENTS ABOUT HEALTHCARE CAREERS AND TAUGHT PATIENT DIAGNOSIS SIMULATION WITH OUR BODY INTERACT TABLE.

COMMUNITY IMPACT:WRAHEC, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SDAHEC PROGRAM OFFICE AND REDFIELD COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A DOL H-1B RURAL HEALTHCARE GRANT WITH THE HOPES OF BUILDING UP THE NURSING WORKFORCE IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND ADDRESSING REGIONAL SHORTAGES OF NURSING ASSISTANTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. WRAHEC AND THE SDAHEC COLLABORATED ON A SECOND ANNUAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONFERENCE IN AUGUST OF 2021, "MISSION POSSIBLE: REDUCING THE IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE + MENTAL ILLNESS." THIS EVENT WELCOMED NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED SPEAKERS, LOCAL PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SHARE ENGAGING CONTENT AND OFFER NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ATTENDEES. SPEAKERS AT THE CONFERENCE GAVE PRESENTATIONS CENTERED ON THE FOLLOWING THREE TOPICS/THEMES: - SUBSTANCE ABUSE - OPIOID TREATMENTS INCLUDING MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT - YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTHA GROUP OF 30 HEALTHCARE LEADERS FROM ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA GATHERED FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL RURAL HEALTH EQUITY SUMMIT AT ARROWWOOD RESORT IN OACOMA ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2021. THE EVENT FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDYING HUMANITIES IN MEDICAL SCHOOLS FOR IMPROVED PATIENT OUTCOMES. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE THE NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN SHORTAGES ACROSS THE STATE, THE EFFORTS WHICH ARE BEGINNING TO ADDRESS THESE GAPS, AND HOW TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GET CERTIFIED AS EMTS TO BACKFILL THESE SHORTAGES WHILE THEY ARE PURSUING OTHER HEALTHCARE CAREERS.