The University of Mississippi Medical Center Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is a statewide health professions network dedicated to improving access to health care in Mississippi’s rural and underserved communities. 

The four project goals are addressed through the implementation of programs that address workforce distribution, diversity, and quality of helath care workforce as prescribed by Bureau of Health Professions National Workforce.

Goal 1: Regionalize and decentralize professional health care training in Mississippi.

A Program Office and 7 Regional AHEC Centers have been developed with accompanying programmatic emphasis: The  Program Office is in Jackson, Mississippi at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and is located in Thad Cochran Jackson Medical Mall, serving as a link between the rural community and UMC.  The Program Office oversees the functions of the AHEC regional centers.

Goal 2: Improve the quality and availability of health care in medically underserved areas through community and academic partnerships.

Education:  The Mississippi AHEC provides pipeline programs that introduce students to health career initiatives; to the idea of a career in the health professions.   We expose students to the community health center model of care through didactic and service learning programs, volunteerism, summer enrichment programs, community seminars, or participation in career days.

 

Goal 3:  Establish a population-based rural health database and place UMC-trained residents in rural areas as a recruitment network for medically underserved areas in Mississippi.

Partnerships:  Collaborative efforts with programs that share the mission and vision of the AHEC aid in maximizing benefits.  Such partnerships with Mississippi Primary Health Care Association (MPHCA), Mississippi Rural Health Association (MRHA), State Department of Health’s Office of Primary Care, Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce (ONW) and health centers assist us in identifying what is needed to fill any service gaps and develop individualized programs that enhance access to quality health care particularly primary and preventive care.  Such partnerships improve the supply and distribution of health care professionals through community /academic educational partnerships. 

Community Rotations:  Providing Pre-doctoral students with rotation exposures to the area hospitals, community health centers, and clinics.  Mississippi AHEC is developing education/residency training programs as an educational emphasis which provides a comprehensive exposure to the fundamental aspects of medicine, and also retains sufficient flexibility to allow effective development of a student's individual abilities and interests.  UMC Residents in Obstetrics-Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Family Medicine gain clinical experiences for one or two months, providing residents an opportunity to experience medical practice in a rural community.  These types of training experiences typically result in physicians practicing in and/or around the area.

 

Goal 4: Provide health profession training programs for health care needs specific to communities and teaches how to utilize local resources.  

These efforts include collaboration with Children’s Defense Fund (CDF); identifying the need to fill any service gaps and develop a career ladder for potential health care workers.  Established relationships with the Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) assisting educators statewide in providing students with the knowledge needed to pursue a career in healthcare.  Most recently, a collaborative effort with Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center (SSRC) and Mississippi Department of Health’s Office of Primary Care has resulted in development of Mississippi Center for Health Workforce, a program designed to combat health professional shortages through the collection and analysis of data useful in recruiting and retaining highly-qualified healthcare professionals in Mississippi.