|
|
|
|
|
Barbara Quiram, PhD, Kay Carpender, and Gail Treece. Office of Special Programs, School of Rural Public Health Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, 3000 Briarcrest Drive, Suite 310, Bryan, TX 77802, (979) 845-2387, bjquiram@srph.tamushsc.edu
Rural public health and other professionals face many challenges with reference to continuing education, networking, and professional development. The Office of Special Programs at the School of Rural Public Health (SRPH) at Texas A&M Health Science Center, utilizes a number of modalities to connect rural health care professionals to public health, including Rural Health Roundtables, self-study mail-outs and interactive telehealth conferences.
A Rural Health Roundtable is an interactive facilitated discussion used to engage local stakeholders in face-to-face dialog about a specific topic. During the roundtable, participants have the opportunity to discuss the issues surrounding the specified topic and potential solutions for these issues. Upon conclusion of a Roundtable, participants are empowered to take action locally utilizing newly established networks.
The self-study mail-out provides rural health professionals with the opportunity to earn continuing education credit via a printed version of CDC self-study curricula. Continuing dialog with rural health professionals indicates a preference for printed materials versus web-based instruction. Currently, this mail-out strategy is being used to increase awareness of environmental health issues.
Additionally, SRPH provides interactive telehealth conferences for continuing education credit. These conferences broadcast interactive learning opportunities to health professionals in rural communities throughout Texas. Past topics include environmental health issues, risk communication, smallpox, and AIDS education.
Each of these learning strategies reaches out to the rural health professional by addressing preferred learning styles and/or the geographical or site limitations of the practitioner. In addition, participation is often the first step in establishing a close, working relationship with SRPH.
Learning Objectives: Rural Health Roundtable Learning Objectives
Keywords: Rural Communities, Public Health Education
Related Web page: www.srph.tamushsc.edu/centers/osp
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: School of Rural Public Health Texas A&M University System Health Science Center
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.