1. 2016 NAO Conference HRSA’s Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Updates June 30, 2016
Luis Padilla, M.D.
Associate Administrator
Bureau of Health Workforce
Director, National Health Service Corps
Health Resources and Services Administration

2. BHW Leadership Updates
Dr. Luis Padilla, Associate Administrator (AA), Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW)
CAPT Sheila Norris, Sr. Advisor, Office of the Associate Administrator (90 day detail)
CDR Jackie Rodrigue, Acting Director, Division of Health Careers and Financial Support (90 day detail)
Israil Ali, Acting Deputy Director, Division of Health Careers and Financial Support (90 day detail)
CDR Corey Palmer, Branch Chief of Health Careers and Pipeline Branch, Division of Health Careers and Financial Support

3. Bureau of Health Workforce Vision & Mission
VISION - From education and training to service, BHW will make a positive and sustained impact on health care delivery for underserved communities.
EDUCATION
MISSION - Improve the health of underserved and vulnerable populations by strengthening the health workforce and connecting skilled professionals to communities in need.
TRAINING
SERVICE

4. BHW Strategic Goals (2016-2018)
Guide and inform national policy around health workforce development and distribution
Develop a strategic approach to health workforce investments
Strengthen and facilitate academic, clinical, and community partnerships to build and sustain impact in underserved communities
Inspire and align the Bureau in support of the BHW Vision

5. Bureau of Health Workforce5

6. Preparing a Diverse Workforce
Diverse Workforce – Improved
Quality of Care
Greater diversity among health professionals is associated with improved quality of care for underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds
47% of trainees in BHW programs are minorities and/or come from disadvantaged backgrounds 6

7. Improving Workforce Distribution
Training, Recruitment, and Retention – Improved Access in Underserved Communities
Clinicians who receive training in community-based and underserved settings are more likely to practice in similar settings
87% of NHSC clinicians continue to practice in underserved areas up to two years after they complete their service commitment
46% of BHW funded trainees are employed in underserved areas 7

8. Transforming Health Care Delivery
Modern Care – Improved Outcomes & Lower Costs
Changing service delivery to meet 21st century needs through an emphasis on quality care that encourages innovative team-based and interprofessional approaches
Our programs serve as a catalyst to advance changes in health professions training that are responsive to the evolving needs of the health care system
In AY , 23 BHW programs had an inter-professional focus. Within those programs 2,658 clinical training sites were engaged in interprofessional team-based care

9. Patient and Family Centered Care
Rising Model of Care
Team- Based Care
Value- Based Care
Patient and Family Centered Care
Integrated Services
Population Health

10. Key AHEC Redesign Questions from Stakeholders
Why is it necessary to redesign AHEC program?
How will the redesign impact current AHEC grant activities and partnerships?
What are the expected outcomes?
When will the changes occur?

11. Rationale for Redesign
Variability among AHEC Centers’ activities and foci;
Duplication and overlapping activities with other HRSA- funded workforce training and education programs;
Need for consistent measures of effectiveness across programs; and
Need to align AHEC Program processes and activities with HRSA/BWH’s strategic priorities.

12. Impact of Redesign
Overarching goal of the AHEC Redesign- to structure and operationalize the AHEC Program in a manner that drives improvements in performance and accountability, provides opportunities to demonstrate value-add and maximizes the collective impact of the program in three focus areas: Distribution of Health Professionals, Diversity of Health Professionals, and Practice Transformation
AHECs receive funds from many sources (e.g. state, private foundations, other grants and contracts) and have identified strategic partners to support their efforts and mission. Existing partnerships may continue and new partnerships should be explored in support of the HRSA-funded initiatives. This redesign focuses on HRSA-funded activities.

13. Redesigned AHEC The core purpose of the AHEC will remain.
Revised purpose statement- The AHEC to develop and enhance educational networks (including clinical training) to improve the distribution and diversity of health professionals who serve rural and underserved populations and can provide quality care in the context of a transforming health care system.

14. AHEC Redesign, Cont. Specific goals of the AHEC Redesign process:
Provide clear expectations regarding the role and responsibilities of AHEC Programs in the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of their Center’s core activities* and the collective impact of those activities on the proposed AHEC Program focus areas which are aligned with HHS/HRSA/BHW strategic priorities.
Strengthen and refine the relationships between AHEC Programs and Centers by providing specific guidance on core activities* based on the proposed AHEC areas of focus and programmatic expectations.
Establish core performance metrics* and emphasize the need to measure specific processes and outcomes that align with HHS/HRSA/BHW strategic priorities and AHEC’s legislation and demonstrate the value-add of the AHEC Program.
*Core activities and metrics are in development

15. AHEC Redesign Approach
PHASE 1: CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT-early 2015
Major issues identified via the budget process;
Conducted an analysis of the 53 AHEC grant recipients; and,
Identified major challenges of the current AHEC structures and variance of activities.

16. AHEC Redesign Approach, Cont.
PHASE 2: HIGH LEVEL WORKGROUP DISCUSSIONS
Developed logic models and timeline;
Engaged AHEC stakeholders via ACICBL Advisory Council; and,
Convened a HRSA High Level Workgroup to identify the focus areas and evaluative measures.

17. AHEC Redesign Approach, Cont.
PHASE 3: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Met with NAO Leadership to solicit feedback on the future direction of the AHEC Program;
Engaged stakeholders across HHS/HRSA and other federal pipeline development programs to drill down on the focus areas in order to identify potential AHEC activities and strategic partnerships; and,
Attend the National AHEC Organization Conference (June 2016)

18. AHEC Redesign Approach, Cont.
PHASE 4: DEVELOPMENT OF FOA
Regrouped with HRSA High Level Workgroup to discuss final FOA Discussion Tool;
Present to HRSA Leadership to AHEC Redesign and FOA Discussion Tool; and
Development of FOA
January Release of AHEC FOA

19. Questions

20. Connect With Us Luis Padilla, M.D. Associate Administrator
Bureau of Health Workforce
Director, National Health Service Corps
Health Resources and Services Administration
5600 Fishers Lane, Rm. 11W-29
Rockville, MD
Phone:
Web: bhw.hrsa.gov
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