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Current Work
In FY 2005 the Committee focused on the
topics of 1) allied health, and 2) interdisciplinary
education and training. The topic of allied
health was addressed over the course of
two meetings, held on January 31-February
2, 2005, and May 1-3, 2005. The meeting
held September 12-14, 2005 addressed interdisciplinary
education and training. For each topic
area, the Committee identified key questions
to address and invited experts, program
staff, and Title VII providers to give
testimony in response to the questions.
The questions are listed below.
Allied Health
- What are HRSA/BHPr’s Allied Health
Projects and what does the legislation
dictate?
- What is the past history, current
status, and future outlook of allied
health?
- What is the Allied Health Reinvestment
Act and what are the ramifications for
the professions?
- What are effective allied health
interdisciplinary training programs
and how are they achieved?
- Are allied health interdisciplinary
training programs meeting the needs
of employers and what do employers seek
in allied health professionals?
Interdisciplinary
Education and Training
- What are Title VII Interdisciplinary,
Community-Based Training Grant Programs
doing in terms of interdisciplinary
training and practice?
- How is interdisciplinary training
and practice woven into their organization’s
mission and goals?
- What interdisciplinary training and
practice projects are woven into their
organizational structure?
- How is interdisciplinary training
and practice woven into the programs?
As part of the meeting on interdisciplinary
education and training, the Committee
explored program models for interdisciplinary
training and practice within Title VII,
using examples provided by grantees. In
addition, reimbursement practices (billable
hours models) and outcomes of interdisciplinary
training and practice were addressed.
Testimony was provided on a study of collaborative
models between Area Health Education Centers
and Health Education Training Centers;
interdisciplinary issues; and a report
on an international meeting addressing
interprofessional education and practice.
The Committee plans to incorporate into
future discussions the identification
of core competencies relating to interdisciplinary
training and practice.
This Fifth Report of the National Advisory
Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based
Linkages reports the findings and recommendations
that resulted from the testimony provided
at the three meetings.
Future Directions
The Committee’s charge, to make recommendations
to strengthen the competence and capacity
of the health care workforce through effective
interdisciplinary, community-based programs,
will be pursued in 2006 by gathering information
and analyzing selected priority topics.
Most importantly, the Committee hopes
to review and provide input on BHPr’s
new evaluation strategy and the implications
of performance measures for BHPr and grantees.
Building upon the information presented
at BHPr’s All Grantee meeting, held in
the summer of 2005, the Committee will
address how performance measures may be
better applied by BHPr to ensure grantee
accountability. More in-depth information
will be sought on the logic models and
performance measures proposed by BHPr
so that the Committee can make recommendations
on their effectiveness in measuring effort
and impact and the feasibility of implementing
the measures at the programmatic level.
Other topics that the Committee plans
to address are listed below.
Leveraging and
Linking Higher Education Financing
This topic will encompass the various
sources of support for higher education
(states, Federal agencies [not just HHS],
private foundations, and faith-based organizations)
and explore the relationships between
these sources. It would focus on linkages,
both across funders and between grantees
and funders, as well as strategies for
leveraging funds. Possible sources of
testimony include provosts, since they
are responsible for building linkages
with foundations, and the Rural Assistance
Center, which can provide information
on foundations and their funding priorities.
Public Health
This topic would explore responsive public
and community health programs. Public
health is becoming an increasingly popular
field for students, who see it as an opportunity
to explore the field of health in general
before committing to a specific discipline.
At the same time, public health departments
and programs are being cut at the state
and local level. Emergency preparedness
and bioterrorism are two growing areas
for public health.
One of the benefits of the Committee
meeting on a regular basis is that it
can be responsive to current issues and
conditions and can address emerging topics
that have an impact on Title VII Interdisciplinary,
Community-Based Training Grant Programs.
While the Committee hopes to be able to
address long-range issues of importance
to the training of health care providers,
the Title VII Interdisciplinary, Community-Based
Training Grant Programs are dynamic, as
are political realities, and recommendations
will no doubt reflect new and emerging
issues. Members of the Committee wish
to continue to address Federal support
for these programs. Consequently, the
agenda proposed above is subject to change.
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