Project Grant G5953705

RURAL NORTHERN BORDER REGION OUTREACH PROGRAM - ORGANIZATION NAME: THE MAINE RURAL GME EDUCATION (MERGE) COLLABORATIVE; APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: MAINEHEALTH. ADDRESS: 22 BRAMHALL ST., PORTLAND, ME 04102-3134. ENTITY TYPE: COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION. WEBSITE: HTTPS://WWW.MAINEHEALTH.ORG/MAINE-MEDICAL-CENTER MERGE COLLABORATIVE - MAINE RURAL GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE. PROJECT DIRECTOR: DAVID MCLELLAN, MBA; PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: KALLI VARAKLIS, MD, MSED. PROJECT TITLE: THE MERGE COLLABORATIVE RURAL OBSTETRICS TRAINING INITIATIVE. PROJECT GOAL: TO IMPROVE RURAL MATERNAL CARE ACCESS BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY TRAINING IN RURAL SETTINGS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (OB/GYN) AND FAMILY MEDICINE (FM) RESIDENTS WHO WILL PROVIDE RURAL MATERNAL CARE. PROPOSED SERVICE AREA: RURAL COUNTIES IN ME AND EASTERN NH. THIS PROJECT IS PARTNERING WITH THE NEW ENGLAND RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION (NERHA) TO FACILITATE SPREAD TO RURAL VT AND NORTHERN NY. TARGET POPULATION: WOMEN AND BIRTHING PERSONS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE DECREASED ACCESS TO MATERNAL HEALTH CARE. FOCUS AREA: RURAL MATERNAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS. CONSORTIUM MEMBERS/PARTNERS: JEANNETTE ANDREWS, DO-STEPHENS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, NORWAY, ME; KATHRYN HOFFMANN, DO-MAINE-DARTMOUTH FM RESIDENCY, AUGUSTA, ME; SUSAN KEARING, DO-FRANKLIN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, FARMINGTON, ME; JENNIFER LABUDDE, MD-MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, NORTH CONWAY, NH; KRISTIN HARTT, MD-NORTHERN LIGHT MAYO HOSPITAL, DOVER-FOXCROFT, ME; KATHERINE GASSMAN, MD-MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL, BAR HARBOR, ME; TBD - NERHA REP.; TBD-FM RESIDENT; TBD-OB/GYN RESIDENT; TBD-RURAL OB PATIENT. PROJECT ACTIVITIES: WE WILL CREATE A NEW RURAL OBSTETRICS EDUCATION CONSORTIUM TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATIVE RURAL OB TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR FM AND OB/GYN RESIDENTS, INFORMED BY ONGOING PATIENT, TRAINEE AND PROVIDER PERSPECTIVES. A COMPANION RURAL OB CURRICULUM WILL BE CREATED. A STANDARDIZED PROCEDURE BY WHICH OTHER RURAL TRAINING INTENSIVES WILL BE DEVELOPED AND BROADLY DISSEMINATED. EXPEC TED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES: TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MATERNAL CARE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. EXPECTED SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES: CREATION OF A NOVEL RURAL OB TRAINING INTENSIVE TO PROVIDE CLINICAL, DIDACTIC, AND SIMULATION-BASED EDUCATION IN RURAL OBSTETRICS, SUPPORTED BY A NEW, PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RURAL OB CURRICULUM. THE PROPOSED PROJECT INTEGRATES PATIENT, TRAINEE AND CURRENT MATERNAL HEALTH PROVIDER INPUT INTO DEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING MANAGEMENT. A NEW ALLIANCE WITH THE NERHA AND THE ME-RMOMS TEAM WILL BUILD ON AND EXPAND EFFORTS TO SERVE RURAL PATIENTS. THE GEOGRAPHIC CO-LOCATION OF MOST CONSORTIUM MEMBERS IN RURAL SETTINGS PROVIDES A TRUE SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND INVESTMENT. ORG. EXPERTISE & CAPACITY: MH HAS AN ESTABLISHED HISTORY OF ADMINISTERING FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS, MEETING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND PROVIDING OVERSIGHT AND ASSISTANCE WITH RECORD-KEEPING, FUND MANAGEMENT, AND ADHERENCE TO ALL POLICIES. CURRENT EXPERIENCE: THE MERGE COLLABORATIVE HAS DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS IN CO-CREATING 33 NEW SHORT, ELECTIVE GME CLINICAL TRAINING SITES IN 13 DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES ACROSS RURAL MAINE. MERGE HAS FORGED NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH RURAL PRACTICES, PROVIDERS AND EDUCATORS. EFFECTIVENESS OF MODEL(S): THE INITIAL SUCCESS OF MERGE HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING: OF THE 8 RESIDENTS WHO DID A MERGE ELECTIVE AND GRADUATED IN 6/2024 TO PRACTICE, 6 HAVE CHOSEN TO PRACTICE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. GEOGRAPHIC RELATIONSHIP TO NBR: 7/8 OF THE PROPOSED RURAL OB EDUCATION CONSORTIUM MEMBERS ARE PHYSICALLY PRACTICING IN RURAL AREAS. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NOTIFICATION: THE NERHA EXEC. DIRECTOR CONTACTED MERGE LEADERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STRATEGIES AND SUCCESSES AND RECOMMENDED THIS GRANT AS AN "IDEAL" FIT TO EXPAND THE WORK OF MERGE. FUNDING PREFERENCE: OUR PROPOSED SERVICE AREA SUPPORT OUR APPLICATION'S ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDING PRIORITIES QUALIFICATION 1: HPSA AND QUALIFICATION 2: MUC/P.