Project Grant TR145907

RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE TRAINING NETWORK PROGRAM - THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO CULTIVATE A STRONG LOCAL NETWORK TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TRAINING RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH COVID AND COVID-19 LONG SYNDROME WITHIN OUR RURAL AREA. THE PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE GOALS OF THE RPHWTN PROGRAM. THE TARGET SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES LOCATED IN WESTERN ILLINOIS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, SOUTHEAST IOWA, AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI. THERE ARE THREE GOALS OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM: 1) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CERTIFICATE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 AND COVID-19 LONG SYNDROME TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING NEED FOR TRAINED STAFF IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION OF AFFECTED PATIENTS AND PROMOTE LONG-TERM ADHERENCE TO HEALTH-ENHANCING BEHAVIORS, 2) DEVELOP AN RRT TO BSRT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ADVANCED LEVEL EDUCATION TO CURRENT REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TRAINED STAFF TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ONGOING NEED IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, AND 3) TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING NETWORK TO CREATE STRONGER LINKAGES BETWEEN THE TRAINING PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND THE HEALTHCARE ENTITIES THAT WILL ULTIMATELY EMPLOY OR RELY UPON PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.