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Topics to be covered at the conference include: medication errors, 2012 updated American Geriatric Society Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults and medication assessment & documentation.

The event will take place on September 21, 2012 at the Thumper Pond Conference Center in Ottertail, MN.

For more information and registration, click here.

Over the two-day conference there will be sessions ranging in topic from a rural health policy forum to the future of rural healthcare to a keynote from Minnesota’s commissioner of health.

During the conference there will also be a presentation of the Minnesota Rural Health Awards, an evening reception, and an exhibit fair where attendees can network and learn more about rural health in Minnesota.

For more information on the conference click here.

Front Row: Pam Cosby, Executive Director, Minnesota Urban AHEC; Regina Pekarek, Workforce Development Representative, Talent Acquisition-Workforce Development, Fairview Health Services; Jane Foote, Executive Director, HealthForce Minnesota; Laura Beeth, System Director, Fairview Talent Acquisition; Barbara Brandt, Professor and Associate Vice President for Education, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota; Second Row: Mike Christenson, Associate Vice President of Workforce Development, Minneapolis Community & Technical College; Mark Eustis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fairview Health Services; Carolyn Jacobson, Sr. Director, OD and Learning, Fairview Health Services; Louis Smith,
Absent: Paul Pribbenow, President
Augsburg College

In September 2011, Beltrami County was awarded a planning grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which provided financial resources to plan for a community health center over a 12-month period. By August 2012, the planning team will deliver on various objectives including garnering community support, developing a long-term strategic plan, developing community based governance, and many more. Once this planning phase is complete the committee intends to move forward with a multi-year, phased delivery approach that will allow the team to address issues gradually and build up to the level of applying to qualify as a full Federally Qualified Health Center. Once the center reaches that level, they could receive up to $650,000 annually, with additional funding coming from insurance reimbursement, co-pays, donors, foundations and local government.

Giving residents in Northwest Minnesota access to this type of facility would provide numerous benefits. Not only would it provide care to those struggling to receive it, but studies have shown that the preventative and primary care provided by community health centers reduces hospitalizations, inpatient days and emergency department use. This lessens the amount of wasteful health resources that are used, contributing savings to both communities and patients. In fact, by the year 2015 it is projected that health care centers will save the health care system $63 billion annually and provide $54 billion in economic gains for low-income communities.

Though the journey to create a Federally Qualified Health Center is a long one, the dedication of those on the planning committee in Northwest Minnesota will be a great benefit to residents and serves as a reminder of why rural care is truly something to care about.

Having a local dentist or dental therapist can make a significant difference for rural and underserved populations, and one of the biggest challenges is placing professionals in these areas. Because of this, making students and professionals aware of the opportunities in rural Minnesota is important. To help spread the word, Southern Minnesota AHEC participated in the Minnesota Dental Association’s 2012 Star of the North dental meeting, April 26-28. The theme, “Make Connections, Gain Experience,” encouraged dental professionals to network and learn about current practices and clinical opportunities. More than 8,500 people attended the conference, including dentists, hygienists, students, educators and many more.

Attendees had the opportunity to network with many exhibitors, one of which was Wendy Foley, Program Coordinator of Southern Minnesota AHEC. At Foley’s exhibit, visitors learned about opportunities in rural areas for dentists. Also in attendance was Dr. Karl Self, head of the Dental Therapy Program at the University of Minnesota. Graduates of this program, which began accepting students in 2009, can provide basic services like filling cavities and oral cancer screenings under the supervision of a dentist who can be off site. This means basic, local care is available even when a dentist is not present. These services are often less expensive when performed by a dental therapist, a relief to many people struggling to pay for healthcare.

Sharing the opportunities and rewards of practicing in a rural area is a step towards providing dental care for all rural residents. Through the great programs put on by various Minnesota healthcare associations, including the Minnesota Dental Association, rural communities can look forward to better, closer and more affordable care.

In order to improve chronic care in rural areas, there are a number of steps that can be taken, both at the community and national level. Recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals to rural areas is one of the most important tasks. For those who need to see a doctor or other caregiver on a frequent basis, traveling long distances may do more harm than good. Likewise, many rural older adults prefer to stay in their own homes and have care nearby, as opposed to moving away to live in an assisted care facility. Programs such as AHEC and the National Health Service Corps that expose students to careers in rural areas and place them in rural facilities are an important element in helping achieve this outcome.

On the national level, many are calling for programs such as Medicare to recognize that rural care is unique, rather than just a “scaled down” version of urban care. Oftentimes, Medicare policies are made with urban residents in mind, and that means rural patients don’t always benefit. Many rural residents must go to hospitals for care, rather than receive it in other settings such as an assisted living facility, and that may affect the quality and cost of the care they receive. In addition, Medicare tends to pay less for the same care in rural areas, which deters some seniors from getting the help they need.

Chronic care is an important issue, and will continue to grow in importance as rural populations age. There are many steps that need to be taken to ensure older adults in rural areas get their needs met. By bringing healthcare professionals into rural areas and taking into consideration the unique needs of rural patients, aging populations can get the best possible treatment, no matter where they live.

Minnesota Urban AHEC seeks to address these challenges and provide urban communities with the care they need. They work with both providers and students, placing healthcare professionals in underserved areas and helping students explore healthcare careers and succeed in their education.

The following video is the first in a series by Minnesota Urban AHEC that highlights the important work they do.