UCRH/SUAHEC/RHAU Semi-Annual Report

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

2022 - 2023

RITA OSBORN, MBA MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE

Dear Friends and Supporters, I am happy to report that the Utah Center for Rural Health has experienced more growth and positive change this six months since our Annual Report was published! We are so proud to be able to continue our mission of providing healthcare access to rural and underrepresented communities throughout Utah.

Thanks to our dedicated staff, partners, and volunteers, we have been able to impact the lives of countless people in our state. Our outreach programs are successful in providing education and resources to those in need.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

We are able to increase awareness and understanding of the barriers to healthcare access in these communities. Our future healthcare worforce and industry benefit when we customize our programs for a rural population.

We look forward to continuing to serve our communities and make a positive impact in the lives of Utah’s rural communities.

UCRH STAFF

Rita Osborn Executive Director

Kasey Shakespear Assistant Director

Carrie Torgersen Assistant Director

Eric Johansen Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator

Tracy Hetherington

Sam Thompson

Valerie Orlemann

Lauren Gleave

Carrie Olvera Community Health Worker Community Health Worker Program Coordinator Program Coordinator

Wendy Hutcheson Business Manager

Nathan Wiggins Data Analyst

Amy Machen Program Manager

Alexus Erickson Program Coordinator

Jennifer Liebert Program Manager Program Coordinator

Austin Jones Program Coordinator

Heidi Heiner Program Coordinator

Ginny Smith Program Coordinator

STAFF HIGHLIGHTS

Weare grateful for all our wonderful staff. They work hard to provide a better life for Utah's rural and underrepresented communities. Our organization grew immensely within the last year, and we are are continuing to grow!

We are pleased to announce that we have hired three new Program Coordinators; Heidi Heiner, Tracy Hetherington, and Amy Machen. Additionally, current staff members grew into new positions. Kasey Shakespear and Carrie Torgersen were promoted to Assistant Directors over Community Projects and Clinical Training Programs, respectively. Alexus Erickson and Jennifer Liebert were also promoted to the positions of Program Manager of Pathway Programs and Program Manager

of Nursing Pathway Programs, respectively. Additionally, our longtime staff members Valerie Orlemann and Samantha Thompson were promoted to part-time and full-time program coordinators, respecitvely.

We are truly grateful for all the hard work and dedication our staff shows in helping Utah's rural and underrepresented communities. Our staff work extremely hard to make sure our programs are successful and we could not be more proud of their accomplishments. We would like to thank each and every one of our staff for their commitment and passion for the work they do. We are lucky to have each one of them on our team.

MESSAGE FROM BOARD CHAIRGREG ROSENVALL

Thisyear has been a successful one for our organization. Our annual conference was a great success, with many attendees and insightful conversations. We piloted a Project ECHO series, which allows providers to connect from anywhere in the world to receive peer assistance to break down the geographical barriers experienced especially in places like rural Utah.

At the Rural Health Association of Utah, we strive to be a valuable resource to rural providers and communities. Our organization empowers rural health care professionals to provide better care, increase access to care, and serve the unique needs of rural communities.

On December 1, 2022, we held our 19th Rural Health Association of Utah Annual Conference at Utah Tech University. Our theme this year

was "Getting Back to Thriving." We hosted experts from around the state to discuss issues facing rural Utah, and were honored to have Alan Morgan, the Chief Executive Office for the National Rural Health Association, as our keynote speaker. We had a very successful pre-conference golf tournament as well, which raised over $3,000 for scholarships for students pursuing healthcare who participate in the Utah Health Scholars Program. We are already beginning planning for this year's conference, which will be held on November 9, 2023, in St. George, UT at the Dixie Convention Center.

We are thrilled with the progress we have made this year, and we look forward to making even more progress in the future. Thank you for your continued support.

The mission of the Rural Health Association of Utah is to provide a unified voice to promote and enhance the quality of rural health through leadership, advocacy, coalition building, education, and to affect policy and legislation.

RHAU/SUAHEC BOARD MEMBERS

Greg Rosenvall President

Kurt Loveless, MBA Vice President/President-Elect

Russel Sorenson, PhD Board Member

Ivette Lopez, PhD Board Member

David Crimin, D.O. Board Member

GJ Willden, M.D. Board Member

Cynthia Kimball-Davis, PhD Treasurer Board Member

Colten Bracken, MD

Glen S. Olson, DDS Board Member

Jesse Spencer, MD Board Member

John Bosak RVU Student Board Member

Board Member

Logan Reid, LPS, MS, MSW Board Member

Melissa Hinton, DNP, FNP-BC, CARN-AP, CEN

The upcoming RHAU Annual Conference will be held in the ballroom of the Dixie Convention Center.

TheRural Health Association of Utah will be hosting its 20th Annual Conference at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George, Utah. This conference will be held on Thursday, November 9th, 2023. This event is an excellent opportunity for health professionals, policy makers, and community members to come together to discuss the challenges and successes of rural health care in Utah. Attendees will gain knowledge of current trends and best practices in rural health, hear from experts on the latest advances in rural health care, and network with other professionals in the field.

This conference is a great way for attendees to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in rural health, and to share ideas and strategies for improving the quality of rural health care in Utah. We hope you will join us for this fantastic event and take advantage of the opportunity to learn, network, and build stronger relationships within the rural health community.

Whether you're looking to learn more, grow professionally, or just have a great experience, the Rural Health Association of Utah Annual Conference is an event that you won't want to miss.

With four Utah college campuses participating in this co-curricular program, including Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University, Utah State University-Eastern, and Snow College, pre-health students gain access to individualized advising and professional development experiences. Our program aims to provide students with more than just textbook knowledge. Through our grant projects and cultural immersion trips,

students gain a unique learning experience and a valuable understanding of the healthcare system. Furthermore, with our established alumni network, students can find mentors and build connections.

We are proud to report that our students have a 73.3% acceptance rate into medical school and 85.7% acceptance rate into Dental School.

If you’re looking to build a successful career in the healthcare field, Utah Health Scholars is here to help you reach your goals.

ALEXUS ERICKSON MESSAGE FROM PATHWAY PROGRAM MANAGER

PATHWAY PROGRAMS PATHWAY PROGRAMS

UTAH HEALTH SCHOLARS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

"From the time I was in elementary school, I knew I wanted to become a pharmacist. My first interaction with the Rural Health Scholars Program was in high school when there was an event for those interested in pre-health programs. They had pre-health students there for questions and we had the opportunity to dissect a heart. I was also introduced to Rita Osborn, the director of the program. After visiting with the students and Rita, I knew I wanted to be a part of this program and it would help me achieve my dream of being a pharmacist in a rural setting. Coming from Beaver, Utah, I knew that UHS would have the resources and knowledge to help me get into pharmacy school. UHS helped me with my class schedule and eventually helped me graduate a year earlier than anticipated with a bachelor’s degree.

UHS introduced me to the Community Health Center for service opportunities, which lead to a leadership position for the Special Olympics Club for two years. I also participated in two of the service trips that were offered. During those trips we served rural, underserved populations, which brought invaluable experience of working with a healthcare team and serving patients. UHS also helped with the pharmacy school application process. The assistance and advice provided, allowed me to submit my best possible application.

The staff are very helpful in the construction of every aspect of your application, including interview feedback. This feedback helped me feel prepared and confident going into various interviews. UHS helped me get accepted to one of my dream pharmacy schools, and less than two years after graduating pharmacy school, I have returned to Cedar City to continue my career serving this great community. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in pursuing any career in healthcare. The program and staff are invaluable in helping you achieve your goals."

Robbie Gurr, PharmD

HIGH SCHOOL PATHWAY

DIRECTORY OF UTAH HEALTH PROFESSIONS TRAINING PROGRAMS

The Directory of Utah Health Professions Training Programs is a reference tool for individuals intending to pursue a career in health care. This directory is compiled and distributed by the Utah Center for Rural Health and Southern Utah University, and is provided to middle schools, high schools, higher education institutions, workforce service centers, and hospitals through the state of Utah.

For a digital copy, visit suu.edu/ruralhealth/directory or scan the QR code below

UHS CULTURAL IMMERSION TRIPS

Utah Health Scholars were thrilled to participate in a healthcare cultural immersion trip to the Dominican Republic. This trip gave pre-health students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in tackling global health issues by providing care to underserved communities in the Dominican Republic. The trip also exposed them to different cultures and lifestyles, teaching them about the importance of cultural competency in the medical field.

The entire experience is designed to show future healthcare providers the power of service and the impact it can have on communities in need.

Students had the opportunity to take part in various professional development activities. In partnering with a local clinic, the students were able to interact with local professionals while assisting in treating local patients. They also learned about the culture of the Dominican Republic through service projects and experiencing the local cuisine and customs. This combination of activities provided those involved with a well-rounded, deeply enriching, and meaningful experience.

Hunter Torgersen, a Utah Health Scholar who attended the trip mentioned, “Working with Dominican

health care providers opened my eyes to patient care approaches I had never considered before. Experiencing the perspective of their culture on well-being was insightful and inspiring.”

The Utah Health Scholars are opening their upcoming cultural immersion trip to the Dominican Republic to pre-health university students at any school in the state of Utah. This trip is sure to be an unforgettable experience that will shape the future of Utah’s pre-health students, helping them to become compassionate and knowledgeable healthcare providers. This trip will give students the opportunity to

see firsthand the inequities and disparities that exist in global healthcare and will hopefully inspire them to become advocates for change in the rural and underrepresented communities of Utah.

An upcoming trip on June 3rd through 10th is open to community members, alumni, and other health professionals. The cost of the trip is $2,300 and includes the flight, lodging, and meals. Interested participants can contact Rita Osborn at osborn@ suu.edu or 435-590-8520.

Southern Utah University student assists in performing wellness screenings on a Dominican woman and her children.

Southern Utah University students and staff pose for a photo outside the Solid Rock International medical clinic.

UTAH HEALTH SCHOLARS - SNOW COLLEGE & USU EASTERN

Snow College's Utah Health Scholars Program has seen remarkable expansion with 106 active Health Scholars currently enrolled. Our students saw the privilege to partake in various community service projects, as well as medical dissections and more. We are proud to introduce our new Snow College student leadership team, who have been a major asset to our program and serve as excellent role models to their peers. The UHS Student Leadership team have initiated "Fresh Fruit Friday", an initiative to encourage health and wellbeing among Snow College students by providing fresh fruit every Friday.

We are proud to announce that Valerie Orlemann, our former Program Analyst, has taken on a part-time role as a UHS Program Coordinator at Utah State University Eastern. This is a testament to the remarkable growth of the Utah Health Scholars Program at USU Eastern. We are excited to not only continue to serve our students and help them achieve their goals of matriculating to healthcare graduate programs, but also to share that Spencer Downs, a USU Eastern UHS student, is the first ever USU Eastern bachelor's degree student to be accepted into medical school! It is an incredible testament to the growing success of USU Eastern and our UHS programs.

"UHS Staff, I just wanted to reach out and say thank you. Since my first semester at college y'all have helped me to prepare for graduate school and helped me know everything I should be doing in order to have a competitive application. I have interviewed with three schools and been accepted to two schools, Des Moines and Duke! Thank you for everything you have done to help me prepare and have such a competitive application."

-Nathan Lee, Snow College UHS Alumnus

Pictures left to right: Snow College UHS Student Leadership Team, Snow College students participate in community service project, USU Eastern student Spencer Downs

ROCKY VISTA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE EARLY ACCEPTANCE PROGRAM

RVUCOM’s Early Acceptance Program (EAP) offers a provisional early acceptance to highly motivated students enrolled at Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University or Snow College. Students must be enrolled and in good standing in the Utah Health Scholars Program. Students meeting requirements of the program and remaining in good standing in the program will not be required to take the MCAT. Up to 15 students annually will be admitted to the program.

Students must have completed a minimum of 8 semester hours of General Biology 1 and 2 with lab, General Chemistry 1 and 2 with lab, English Composition, plus one writing-intensive course.

For additional information, contact osborn@suu.edu

Students are eligible to apply after the completion of 60 semester hours of coursework (typically the end of their sophomore year).

SUU MOBILE WELLNESS VAN PARTNERSHIP PROJECT

The goal of the Interprofessional Mobile Wellness Project (IPE-MWP) at Southern Utah University (SUU) is to increase opportunities for SUU students to collaborate on interprofessional wellness initiatives to improve the health and wellness of rural communities and vulnerable populations in southwestern Utah.

The IPE-MWP is based on the Wellness Bus developed by the University of Utah Health in northern Utah The IPE-MWP is innovative in its use of interprofessional students to provide wellness and health promotion services.

The funding for this project was secured by Dr. Mark Siemon, SUU College of Nursing. The project will also provide an opportunity for SUU health profession students to encourage students in rural communities and minority students to consider different types of careers in healthcare.

CLINICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS CLINICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS

CARRIE TORGERSEN

MESSAGE FROM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

It has been an exciting past 6 months and I am proud to share the success of our projects. We look forward to the continued growth of our clinical training programs and are excited to see what the next year brings.

Our Community Health Worker project has been particularly successful. We recently received funding for an additional 2 years and have already doubled the number of referrals we are working with. We have also been able to help with 100 student rotations from July to December, a program that offers health profession students the chance to build new, collaborative relationships with healthcare providers in rural communities and to learn about the unique challenges of providing care in rural settings.

Our 3RNet initiative has connected a medical resident with the Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi and he will begin working full-time in August of 2023. 3RNet is an amazing resource that allows facilities to start interacting with mission-minded health

professionals actively looking for jobs in rural and underserved areas. 121 new jobs in Utah were added to 3RNet between July and December and those jobs were viewed 135,101 times.

Finally, our UT-PIC project has graduated 5 interns from the 2021-2022 cohort; one who is now working full-time in Richfield and one is working full-time at Utah Tech. We have also increased our number of interns to 7 for the 2022-2023 cohort and added sites in Heber and St. George. I am proud of the progress we have made and am looking forward to what the future holds. Thank you for your continued support!

Our office remains committed to providing meaningful opportunities and collaborations with students, communities, organizations, and facilities. Please reach out to our office if we can help you in any way.

RURAL ROTATION SUCCESS STORY

"Hello, my name is Derek, and I am a 4th year pharmacy student at the University of Utah. I had the opportunity of working with the Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS) in the Four Corners area of Utah. While on rotation with UNHS, I was able to work with patients at 3 different clinics in the local areas. While working with UNHS, I was able to help and work with a very unique patient population that included nearly 95% Native American patients most of which were from the Navajo tribe. A majority of the services provided by the clinical pharmacists at UNHS involved diabetes management, but they also were responsible for anticoagulation as well as hypertension management. We met with patients every day to see how we could work together to make their diabetes management more manageable and less burdensome for the patient while improving clinical outcomes. Working in this

rural setting with this patient population was an incredible experience that taught me a great deal about myself and what direction I would like to take with my practice moving forward.

In addition to working with an amazing staff and patient population, the area in the Four Corners region of Utah has some of the most incredible scenery in all of the country. I was able to visit places such as Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Gooseneck State Park, Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat and many other local archeological ruins and sites. This is an amazing and extremely unique part of the country, and one that I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to see and live in."

— DEREK YOUNG, PHARMD CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

CHW SUCCESS STORIES

CHW SUCCESS STORIES

Medication and Utility Assistance

After meeting with the client in their home it was found the individual was living in an unsafe and unsanitary environment without running water or indoor plumbing. The individual also did not feel safe in their home and could not consistently take their medication which caused them to become disoriented and repeatedly present in the emergency room. The community health workers were able to help this individual move to a permanent facility where they could live and get the day-to-day help they needed.

Food Insecurity and Help with Rent Relief

Due to dietary restrictions (diabetic, lactose intolerant, and teeth issues), it was very difficult for this individual to afford groceries with their limited income. The community health workers worked directly with the local food pantry and this individual to put together and acquire food that worked with their restrictions and provided the nutrition needed. A rent relief application was filled out, submitted, and approved to help cover some of the cost of the individual’s monthly rent so they could save money to put towards dentures they were hoping to purchase.

Housing Instability

Due to a domestic violence situation, this individual was moving forward with a divorce and now struggled to make their rent payments with only their income. The community health workers helped with a rent relief application and helped to stop an eviction. The rent relief application was ultimately approved to help them until their social security benefits would start in a few months. The client expressed gratitude for the assistance to stay in their home and not become homeless.

UTAH PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP CONSORTIUM

Our 2021-2022 internship cohort has graduated five interns, two of whom are now employed full-time in our state (Richfield and Utah Tech). We are also pleased to share that our 2022-2023 internship cohort is now underway with seven interns, including two new sites in Heber and St. George. We are excited to continue

to offer our internship program to more and more individuals each year.

Through 3RNet, we successfully connected a Family Practice medical resident with the Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi and they will be starting their full-time position in August 2023. 3RNet has been an invaluable source in connecting talented medical professionals with practices in need of their services. We are proud to be a part of this successful match and look forward to seeing the positive impact the resident will have in the

Central Valley Medical Center and its rural community!

3RNet’s commitment to helping healthcare professionals find the right job is truly remarkable. They are a valuable resource to healthcare professionals and are dedicated to providing a helpful and informative platform to help healthcare professionals make the best decisions for their career.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

As we move into the new year, our community team is hard at work on a number of new and continuing initiatives. We are working tirelessly in the Rural Community Opioid Response Program, with three active grants addressing Opioids, Psychostimulants and Behavioral Healthcare Support. We continue to see tremendous growth in our prevention efforts, including adding a third Prevention Coalition at Snow College this year. We are also continuing to build new and existing resources such as our health resource database and Project ECHO offerings. We are also excited to start working to build more support for Rural Health Clinics throughout the state, which is one of our

priorities this year. We would like to remind everyone to follow RHAU on social media and visit our site RHAU.org regularly to learn more about our efforts. In light of the health needs in our office and state, we are making a concentrated effort to bring in new resources and opportunities to improve healthcare in these areas.

We are furthering our efforts through multiple proposals and projects to bolster the nursing workforce and incorporate oral health into our plans. Our goal is to build on the progress made in rural and frontier Utah in the past five years and make an even bigger impact.

KASEY SHAKESPEAR, MHA, MPH, MA MESSAGE FROM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

RURAL HEALTH CLINICS

We held a listening session for current Rural Health Clinics at our RHAU Annual Conference, as well as a wonderful session by Board Member Dr. Colten Bracken on his experience with becoming a community health clinic. We are planning to visit clinics throughout this state, and would love to invite any

clinics who are Rural Health Clinics, or would like to learn about becoming a Rural Health Clinic to reach out to Kasey Shakespear at (435) 879-4364 or kaseyshakespear@suu.edu to learn more about our efforts.

HEALTH EQUITY PROJECT ECHO

Ourfirst Rural Project ECHO launched this January. We were very happy to see a tremendous response from individuals all over rural Utah who have registered and attended our inaugural sessions. Our staff would like to thank all those who participated for supporting our efforts. You can find recordings of previous sessions, and information about upcoming Project ECHO opportunities at rhau.org/project-echo.

We are pleased to invite you to join our 6 part series on Health Equity in rural Utah. These sessions will take place on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of January, February, and March, and will go from 12 - 1 PM. Please fill out the registration form or the QR code below to receive the link to the sessions.

bitl.y/rhau-project-echo

CURRENT GRANT PROJECTS

RCORP Implementation II

Federal Grant - 2020-2023

Funded Amount: $1,000,000

Our center is working to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery resources in Garfield, Kane, Piute, and Wayne counties, by helping expand services for Aspire365, an innovative at-home Substance Use Disorder treatment model. This program has resulted in Aspire365’s first two insurance contracts (covering commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid) ensuring access throughout rural Utah indefinitely.

RCORP Psychostimulant Support

Federal Grant - 2022-2025

Funded Amount: $500,000

RCORP Psychostimulant Support

Federal Grant - 2022-2025

Funded Amount: $500,000

Our center works in Carbon, Emery, and Grand county to address issues related to psychostimulants. The project includes providing a Strengthening Family program to reduce the likelihood of youth engaging in drug use, improving care coordination within the communities, and training clinics in implementing Contingency Management to treat psychostimulant use disorder.

RCORP Behavioral Health care Support

Federal Grant Subaward - 2022-2026

Funded Amount: $391,914

RCORP Behavioral Health care Support

Federal Grant Subaward - 2022-2026

Funded Amount: $391,914

Our center partners with the University of Utah School of Nursing to provide services to Carbon, Emery, and Wayne counties. Under this grant, we are working to implement a collaborative care model for nursing to improve SUD care. We are also working

to strengthen resources and training for the health care workforce.

Addressing Health Equity in Post-COVID Landscape

State Grant - 2021-2023

Funded Amount: $150,000

This grant provides services to all 24 rural and frontier counties in Utah. Through the program, we were able to create a comprehensive Health Resource Database for these counties which is housed on RHAU.og. We also were able to register our center as a Project ECHO hub to create and deliver virtual education and are currently delivering a series on Health Equity.

Higher Education Prevention

State Grant Subaward - 2022-2023

Funded Amount: $200,000

This grant has supported our center to continue work with two student-led prevention coalitions at Southern Utah University and Utah Tech University. These growing coalitions have continued to thrive under our center with the enthusiasm of students on both campuses. We were also able to use this funding to establish a third coalition on the campus of Snow College.

E-cigarette, Marijuana and Other Drug Prevention Grant

State Grant - 2022-2023

Funded Amount: $20,000

This fund provides additional support for our student-led prevention coalition at Southern Utah University. Specifically, the funding is addressing issues around substance use by supporting drug takeback, providing resources, organizing awareness events, and messaging on campus.

CONTACT US

SUU

351 University Blvd. Cedar City, UT, 84720

SC 304

(435) 865-8573

UTAH TECH

225 S. 700 E. St. George, UT 84770

Hazy 327

(435) 879-4364

rhau.org

SNOW COLLEGE

150 College Ave Ephriam, UT 84627

(435) 283-7218

USU EASTERN

451 E 400 N Price, UT 84501

(435) 463-4528

utahhealthscholars.org

utahopioids.org

3rnet.org

"WHEN RURAL UTAH THRIVES, IT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE STATE."

- SPENCER COX, UTAH STATE GOVERNOR

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