One post graduate transition-to-practice program for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Physician Assistants (PAs), also known as Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship, utilized a collaborative approach with local and system community leaders to enhance interprofessional training and improve health equity in rural and medically underserved areas through the use of mobile health clinics. In 2021, the program was awarded partial funding through a HRSA federal grant to improve the educational training of novice APRNs in rural and undeserved medicine, especially where services such as mental health are inadequate. While the mobile health clinics were in existence in two distinct areas within our system (underserved and rural), there lacked consistency with staffing by providers. In collaboration with community and healthcare system leaders and the local college of medicine, the APP Fellows were immersed into communities to deliver care to a variety of patients. The APP Fellows learned the impact of social determinants of health on patient outcomes as they were challenged to develop a plan of care for individuals who had multiple barriers to health equity, including education, transportation, housing, and economic stability. The APP Fellows collaborated with medical students and residents to develop a realistic plan for improving the health of the patients served. In the rural settings, the Fellows mitigated transportation barriers by providing care to elderly patients in a community that recently closed a health clinic, nearly 30 miles from the nearest facility. APP Fellows cared for unsheltered individuals, some who were recently released from prison or on the path to rehabilitation. The collaboration of the Fellowship with community medicine services has proven to increase the confidence and competence to care for patients with health inequity and has provided access to care for those in our communities.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The National Center OICPD is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
