Project Grant T8R53141

PRIMARY CARE TRAINING AND ENHANCEMENT: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT RURAL TRAINING IN MENTAL AND BEHAV. HLTH - PROJECT ABSTRACT PROJECT TITLE: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT: IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH PROVISION AND ACCESS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TOGETHER (PA IMPACT) PROGRAM: PRIMARY CARE TRAINING AND ENHANCEMENT - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT RURAL BEHAVIORAL TRAINING, HRSA-24-019 APPLICANT ORGANIZATION NAME: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER ADDRESS: 3600 N. GARFIELD, MIDLAND, TX 79705 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: CHRISTINA ROBOHM-LEAVITT, DMSC, PA-C; CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 432-620-1120 EMAIL ADDRESS: CHRISTINA.ROBOHM@TTUHSC.EDU WEBSITE ADDRESS: HTTPS://WWW.TTUHSC.EDU/HEALTH-PROFESSIONS/MASTER-PHYSICIAN-ASSISTANT-STUDIES. NUMBER OF TRAINEES PER YEAR: 82 PER YEAR FUNDING REQUESTED: $ $2,019,484 FUNDING PREFERENCE REQUESTED: HIGH PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATES IN MUCS WITH AN OVERARCHING GOAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRAINED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS WHO CHOOSE TO PRACTICE IN RURAL AREAS AFTER GRADUATION, PA IMPACT AIMS TO ENHANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO ADDRESS THE GROWING NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY CARE, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, FOR PA STUDENTS AND PRACTICING PROVIDERS PROVIDING INSTRUCTION AT THE TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER (TTUHSC) PA PROGRAM. THIS MULTI-YEAR, COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WILL SERVE TO IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES OF PA STUDENTS AND THEIR PRECEPTORS IN RECOGNIZING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, FOCUSING ON PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS TO PREPARE THEM FOR AUTONOMOUS PRACTICE, MEETING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICS AND RURAL HOSPITALS IN WEST TEXAS AND BEYOND. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL 1) P PROVIDE 3-MONTH MINIMUM INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICAL ROTATIONS IN A RURAL PRIMARY CARE SETTING; 2) DEVELOP A PROGRAM CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS; 3) ESTABLISH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT PRIMARY CARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTEGRATION IN RURAL AREAS. A 12-WEEK LONGITUDINAL ROTATION IN PRIMARY CARE/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RURAL ROTATIONS EXPERIENCE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT SELECTED WEST TEXAS AND THE PANHANDLE SITES WITHIN THE 1ST SIX MONTHS OF FUNDING WITH 10 STUDENTS PER YEAR. THE PROJECT WILL USE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ENHANCING THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF PA STUDENTS AND PRECEPTORS IN ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, MAINLY FOCUSING ON OPIOID USE DISORDER, AND DEVELOP AN ENGAGING CME MODULE FOR PRACTICING PROVIDERS. THE INITIATIVE INCLUDES EXPANDED DIDACTIC TRAINING WITH INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERIENCES, UTILIZING GRAPHICS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED LEARNING AND RETENTION. IT INTRODUCES INNOVATIVE METHODS SUCH AS TELE-EDUCATION/ MENTORING THROUGH PROJECT ECHO TO EQUIP PROVIDERS WITH SKILLS FOR DELIVERING BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH SERVICES IN PRIMARY CARE. IT WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGITAL APPLICATION TO USE IN THE DELIVERY OF TREATMENT METHODS. THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, THE PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND CLINICAL PRACTICE PARTNERS AND DISSEMINATE INNOVATIVE PA TRAINING MODELS. THE PA PROGRAM FACULTY WILL IMPLEMENT THE INITIATIVE UPON RECEIPT OF FUNDING ON JULY 1, 2024. AT THE END OF THE GRANT, ALL PA STUDENTS WILL HAVE ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE OF CARING FOR PATIENTS IN RURAL AREAS, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THE PROJECT'S IMPACT WILL BE MEASURED USING A COMPREHENSIVE, MIXED-METHODS STRATEGY TO DOCUMENT STUDENT KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THROUGH COURSE PERFORMANCE, STUDENT/FACULTY/PRECEPTOR FEEDBACK ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND PROGRAM QUALITY, AND HRSA-SPECIFIC TRACKING INDICATORS. DISSEMINATION OF THE CURRICULAR DESIGN, OUTCOMES, BEST PRACTICES, AND LESSONS LEARNED IS PLANNED THROUGH NATIONAL/REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS. FUNDING PREFERENCE IS REQUESTED FOR QUALIFICATION #1, A HIGHLY MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY (MUC) GRADUATE PLACEMENT RATE >50% FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.