SPNS/Fax: An Electronic Report from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements:
Volume 2, Issue 19 (September 19, 1997)

Information dissemination from 27 Innovative Models of HIV Care projects funded as Special Projects of National Significance by the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Introduction

Welcome to SPNS/Fax: An Electronic Report from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements. In each issue of SPNS/Fax, we will highlight findings from the HRSA Special Projects of National Significance Program Cooperative Agreements. The projects have been funded to develop innovative models of HIV/AIDS care. SPNS/Fax reports are distributed every two weeks by fax machine to all subscribers. All issues of SPNS/Fax are also available at this Web site. Due to slight differences in the media, issues distributed by fax machine may appear slightly different from those posted on this Web site, but the content is identical.

University of Mississippi Provides HIV Training for Rural Community Health Centers

Mississippi remains the poorest state in the United States. More than one-half of its population live in rural areas, and more than one-half of the State’s counties are designated as health professional shortage areas. A large proportion of Mississippi residents cannot afford the cost of primary care, or are unable to travel to the nearest primary care clinic, or both. Furthermore, the incidence of HIV is highest among the poor and African-Americans, who often cannot obtain the primary care they need.

The University of Mississippi’s HIV Early Intervention for Community Health Centers project has recognized the need to increase the number of primary care practitioners throughout Mississippi who are willing and capable of giving high-quality primary care to persons with HIV/AIDS. In order to achieve this goal, the project has established an HIV educational network for primary care givers, and is enhancing communication and cooperation between practitioners delivering care to HIV-positive individuals and infectious disease sub-specialists. In addition to targeting physicians, dentists, and nurse practitioners, the project targets community health centers in areas with high incidence of HIV. The project has strong connections with virtually all HIV service organizations and providers in the State, including the State Health Department, the Mississippi Health Information Network, the National Alumni AIDS Prevention Project, and the Mississippi Primary Care Association.

For poor, rural states such as Mississippi, traditional models of HIV training may not be effective given the relative isolation of small town clinics away from large urban medical centers. This model is innovative in that it uses the latest communications technology to establish and maintain a close relationship between urban specialists, educators and rural primary care clinicians. The use of state-of-the-art computer technology to reach poor and rural areas increases delivery of care to people with HIV/AIDS.

Computer-based Distance Learning Program

A 2-day comprehensive, intensive preceptorship on primary care for persons with HIV/AIDS is offered every 3 to 4 months at the University Medical Center by staff of the Delta AIDS Education and Training Center. Given that many practitioners are unwilling to take the time and expense to travel, the grant from the SPNS Program has allowed this project to offer practitioners the option of either coming to Jackson at no expense for the formal preceptorship, or undergoing computer-based, interactive, distance learning (see distance learning curriculum in the box on the left).

The distance learning technology allows community health clinics (CHCs) to receive Clinical Alerts from NIH and new information on HIV funding opportunities. During conference calls between the University Medical Center and CHCs, cases are presented, the newest trends in HIV primary care are discussed, and new data are disseminated. In addition, full-time personnel based at the University Medical Center in Jackson travel to individual CHCs to coordinate activities on-site, ensure adequate evaluation of the project, supply one-on-one clinical preceptoring, and encourage interaction and close communication between the clinics and the University Medical Center.

For more information, contact the Principal Investigator, Harold M. Henderson, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, 601.984.5556.

SPNS/Fax is produced by The Measurement Group–PROTOTYPES Evaluation and Dissemination Center (EDC). Editorial comments should be made to The Measurement Group at 5811A Uplander Way, Culver City, California 90230, 310.216.1051, 310.670.7735 (fax).
 

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