FEATURE
_____________________
Spotlight on Community Health: GRHIC PhD Research Assistants Complete Elbert Memorial Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment
by Laura Ross, Center Research Assistant and PhD Student in Rural Health Sciences at Mercer University
| Photo courtesy of Elbert Memorial Hospital | |
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC) is proud to announce the completion of a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for Elbert Memorial Hospital in Elberton.
Anne Montgomery, PhD, and Chris Scoggins, DrPH, both of GRHIC, led the assessment with Mercer University School of Medicine Rural Health Sciences PhD program graduate assistants. CHNA activities were spearheaded by PhD students Alika Croy, Taliyah Henderson, and Laura Ross from August 2023 to May 2024.
The CHNA is vital for rural hospitals, like Elbert Memorial, because they provide critical insights into the health challenges faced by the local population. All 501(c)(3) not-for-profit hospitals must complete the CHNA.
The goal of Elbert Memorial Hospital’s assessment is to offer a purposeful understanding of the most significant health and social needs in the hospital’s service area, which covers eight counties. Research assistants gathered information on unmet health needs and service gaps through multiple channels. Findings from the report will be used to identify, develop, and focus hospital, health system, and community initiatives and programming to better serve the health and wellness needs of community residents.
| |
|
GRHIC's Community Health Reporters Convened for Summer Retreat
by Harvey Lee Moody III, Community Resource and Assessment Specialist
| |
|
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center hosted its summer retreat for the community health reporter (CHR) program on June 7 at Mercer University’s Macon Campus. Nearly 30 health reporters from across the state attended the event.
The CHR program enlists support from individuals living and working in rural Georgia communities to provide the Center with timely and accurate data regarding health care access and services in their communities. The data is not only used as a resource to show where community members can receive care but also to illustrate where there may be a lack of resources.
The majority a CHR’s role is virtual, so the event served as an opportunity for reporters to network with each other. Kedrick Williams, DHA, MPH, senior rural health project manager at GRHIC, led a community windshield survey workshop. Windshield surveys are observations that could be made from a moving vehicle, which allows health reporters to take an objective view of their community and list an overview of available resources. This workshop inspired discussions on resources present and not present in Georgia’s rural communities.
Harvey Lee Moody, MS, a GRHIC community resource and assessment specialist, trained
CHRs on a web-based tool used for data collection. Reporters can add, modify and verify health care locations and providers in their territories. The new upgrade to the website offers an interactive and user-friendly way to collect and manage data.
The retreat featured health education on blood pressure management by Bailey Vickers, a
rising second-year Mercer University School of Medicine student. Retreat participants were gifted blood pressure monitors and educational materials on maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.
The retreat concluded with a mental health and well-being training through the Community Resiliency Model from Joan Anderson, JD, MPH, MBA, senior rural health project manager, and Travis Crafter, LPC, CPCS, clinical behavioral mental health specialist, both of GRHIC. This training provided participants with tools to enhance their resilience during times of stress and uncertainty.
| |
|
Become a Community Health Reporter
Currently, eleven territories are without a reporter:
- Bacon County and Jeff Davis County
- Banks County
- Chattooga County and Dade County
- Dawson County and Pickens County
- Elbert County
- Fannin County
- Haralson County
- Heard County and Meriwether County
- Lee County
- Polk County
- Towns County and Union County
APPLY TODAY
| |
Maternal Health Symposium Focuses on the Maternal Health Care Team | |
|
The 2024 Maternal Health Symposium held June 20, 2024 was another successful educational and networking event for more than 100 of Georgia’s maternal health providers, educators, advocates and students. The symposium provided continuing medical education (CME) credits and continuing nursing education (CNE) credits.
This year's topic was The Maternal Health Care Team. Six speakers with diverse maternal health care expertise presented at the event.
R. Edward Betcher, MD, FACOG
Professor and Chairman of OB/GYN, Physician Leader for Women’s Health, Atrium Health Navicent, Mercer University School of Medicine
Watch: The Maternal Health Care Team
Anthony Kondracki, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah Campus
Watch: Pregnancy-Related Maternal Mortality in the State of Georgia: Timing and Causes of Death/Improving the Health of Women in Georgia
Stephanie Dare Singleton MD, FACOG
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine;
Mercer Medicine Putnam County, Eatonton
Watch: How Does Fertility Fit?
Keisha Callins, MD, MPH
Inaugural Sandra Dunagan Deal Rural Service Fellow Award, Joy McCann Endowed Professorship/Mercer University School of Medicine; Physician, Community Health Care Systems, Gray & Jeffersonville
Watch: Practicing Care — Compassion, Attitude, Resiliency, Empathy
Patricia Prime, RN, MBA, CPD
Prime BabyTime Consulting, Owner; Registered Nurse, Postpartum Doula and Certified Breastfeeding Consultant
Watch: Postpartum Concerns, Resources and Supports
Misti Patel, MD, FACOG
Maternal Fetal Medicine, Maternal Medical Director, Macon Regional Perinatal
Center, Affiliated with Atrium Health Navicent Maternal Fetal Medicine
Watch: Maternal Fetal Medicine and the Regionalization of Care in Georgia
Save the Date
2025 Maternal Health Symposium: When the Unexpected Happens
June 26, 2025 | Mercer University, Macon Campus
| |
|
455 Continuing Education Credits Earned by Physicians and Nurses Across Georgia
Continuing education for physicians, advanced practice practitioners, nurses, and other health care professionals is an essential component of the KidsABC Rural Pediatrician Support Collaborative.
Through a series of one-hour web-based education courses and full-day in-person conferences that feature subject-matter experts in a variety of medical fields, health care professionals who serve pediatric patients have opportunities to earn continuing medical education (CME) credits and continuing nursing education (CNE) credits.
Since its inception in 2023, KidsABC has hosted nine online seminars, awarding 128 CME credits and nine CNE credits. To date, two in-person conferences have been held with nearly 130 participants. A total of 174 CME credits and 144 CNE credits were awarded at these events.
| |
|
Rural Hospital Emergency Department Collaborative
In collaboration with Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC), the KidsABC Rural Hospital Emergency Department Collaborative will host a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) training course to help collaborative hospital staff prepare for the CEN exam. The course will be held July 24 and 25 on the CRMC campus in Douglas. CEN certification is a distinction that represents excellence in emergency nursing care and a commitment to quality. The goal is to have at least one CEN certified ED staff member in each hospital. The next collaborative meeting will take place on September 13 and is being hosted by Colquitt Regional Medical Center. The agenda will focus on topics requested by collaborative partners and will provide ample opportunity for discussion, networking and learning. More details and a full agenda will be distributed soon.
Rural Pediatrician Support Collaborative
Cohort 2 of pediatric and family medicine physicians has been finalized and on-site visits have been completed. The Second Annual Rural Pediatric Continuing Education Conference was held on May 17 with 79 attendees, six speaker sessions (including a panel discussion featuring rural pediatricians from Cohort 1 of KidsABC), and eight exhibitors highlighting pediatric services for rural Georgians. Attendees earned 110 CME hours and 108 CNE credits, as applicable. Evaluations show that conference attendees were highly satisfied with the quality of the event overall; scope of information presented; quality of the presentations; and amount of time to network and share ideas with peers. Some conference attendees provided topics they would like to see covered at future conferences such as autism, feeding challenges from birth to five years, hypertension and heart disease; and mental health treatment and alternative modalities. Additionally, a few conference attendees shared of their interest in presenting at a Pediatric Alliance Speakers Series Session (virtual CME); being a future Pediatric Continuing Education Conference speaker; becoming a preceptor for our 6-week Children’s Scholars Summer Program; and becoming a future KidsABC site. The Third Annual Rural Pediatric Continuing Education Conference will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Mercer University.
The Children’s Scholars Summer Program began on Monday, June 17 with two Mercer University School of Medicine students. The two-day orientation included lunch with School of Medicine Dean Jean R. Sumner, MD, FACP, and Georgia Department of Public Health Perinatal Health Partners virtual presentation featuring staff Holly Mobley and Jeremy Johnson. This six-week summer program will offer these students clinical observership and mentorship with more than six pediatricians across rural Georgia; didactic problem analysis research work to address health disparities in rural pediatric care; interprofessional education hours of team collaboration with medical students aspiring to become OB/GYNs; and pediatric and maternal health subject-matter experts as speakers in the Summer Speakers Series. On Wednesday, July 10, these students along with other Children’s Scholars from Cohorts 1 and 2, will participate in Children’s Scholars Day in Atlanta and engage in a one-day educational event hosted by Brad Weselman, MD, pediatrician and executive director of The Children's Care Network. This experience is anticipated to allow scholars to reflect on the unique knowledge and skills needed to become a practicing pediatrician and consider how this innovative initiative between Mercer University School of Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center will benefit the future of pediatric health care in Georgia. Stay tuned to more information to come over the next few months highlighting the work and experiences of the Children’s Scholars.
Rural Pediatric Mental Health Collaborative
During academic year 2024-2025, the KidsABC Rural Pediatric Mental Health Collaborative will be conducting mental health and wellness screenings with school-aged children. The collaborative will be a resource to Emory University’s Child and Adolescent Mood Program that will be offering School Screenings & Clinical Care for Anxiety and/or Depression in the schools. If any of these screening results indicate a student may benefit from continued evaluation, referrals and services will be offered.
Jefferson County Schools and Washington County Schools will continue to be involved with the screenings. Three additional school systems have expressed interest. We look forward to serving more rural children during the next school year.
To support the teachers and staff as the new school year begins, the Children’s Strong4Life one-hour resiliency training will be provided during Jefferson County Schools and Washington County Schools pre-planning workshops.
| |
|
First Portfolio Project Approved
At the Mercer University School of Medicine portfolio site, the first project has been approved for credits. The project, “Management of neonatal hypoglycemia with dextrose gel in the newborn nursery,” was led by pediatrician Dr. Palmer Johnston. The project developed a newborn nursery hypoglycemia protocol. The Quality Improvement (QI) project concluded that PO dextrose gel is an appropriate and safe additional therapy for neonates with hypoglycemia in the first 48 hours of life. More accurate glucose monitoring led to fewer unnecessary painful procedures, decreased supply waste, and did not significantly change breastfeeding rates. Dr. Johnston received QI points toward part 4 of the Maintenance of Certification.
Anyone considering joining or starting a new or existing project, can reach out to Anne Montgomery, PhD, at Montgomery_a@mercer.edu for more information.
| |
|
Training and News for Rural Pediatric Health Care Providers
Rural Pediatric News is published bimonthly and highlights training and continuing medical education options, recommended reading, physician spotlights, seasonal health and wellness information to share with patients, and more.
The Pediatric Alliance Speakers Series is a free monthly training series for providers to earn CME credits, offered by Mercer University School of Medicine, through one-hour virtual training sessions with subject matter experts in a variety of topics. PASS includes peer-led rural pediatric patient case studies and an in-person continuing education conference.
If you are a rural pediatric provider, please click to register for trainings and subscribe to Rural Pediatric News.
| |
2024 Ongoing Center Initiatives | |
|
Maternal Health Improvement
All Rural Counties
Kedrick Williams
Maternal Health Observership
All Rural Counties
Kedrick Williams
Maternal Health Symposium
All Rural Counties
Joan Anderson
Community Health Reporter
All Rural Counties
Kedrick Williams, Harvey Moody
Clinical Ethics ECHO
All Rural Counties
Chris Scoggins, Samantha Johnson
Opioid Misuse Prevention Project
Rural Hospitals
Glenda Grant
| |
|
ASIST Suicide Training
All Rural Counties
Travis Crafter
Community Resiliency
Model (CRM)
All Rural Counties
Joan Anderson, Travis Crafter
Mental Health First Aid
All Rural Counties
Kedrick Williams,
Glenda Grant
Pediatric Mental Health Initiative
Ben Hill, Jefferson, Washington
Joan Anderson
Barber/Beauty Shop Project
Randolph County
Harvey Moody
Rural Medicine Pathways Events
All Rural Counties
Glenda Grant
| |
|
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention
All Rural Counties
Joan Anderson
Faith in Rural Health
Berrien, Putnam, Toombs/Montgomery
Paul Byrd
Health Fairs
Rural Partners
Amanda Livingston
Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance
All Counties
John McElveen
Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Nursing Education Training
Harvey Moody
| |
|
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center works with rural partners to enhance health education through health fairs.
We encourage these community members to join us:
Clinch County | July 20 | 11 a.m
Co-Host: Clinch Memorial Hospital
Rabun County | August 3 | 10 a.m.
Co-Host: Mountain Lakes Medical Center
Randolph County | September 16 | 4 p.m.
Co-Host: Randolph County Family Connection
Putnam County | November 2 | TBD
Are you a vendor wanting to participate in a health fair?
Submit the application below.
BECOME A VENDOR
| |
|
Are you a physician, health care professional, faith leader, or a student in health care, theology, or public health?
Join us for the Faith in Rural Health Summit on October 4 at 9 .am., as we explore how health care providers and faith leaders can collaborate to tackle their communities’ health challenges. The summit aims to encourage and facilitate deeper connections between these two vital sectors, leading to enhanced health care outcomes in rural Georgia counties.
Topics & Discussions
– One Physician’s Reflection on Medical/Faith Lessons Learned from COVID
– The Church’s Role in Rural Public Health Collaborations
– Successful Faith-Health Partnership in Rural Georgia
– Best Practices for Addressing the Spiritual Needs that Patients Bring to Medical Settings
Six CME credits will be offered.
LEARN MORE
| |
|
ABOUT THE CENTER
In 2018, Georgia lawmakers dedicated special funds to establish a new Rural Health Innovation Center tasked with confronting the complex health care challenges and wellness disparities facing rural communities. Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) was awarded the grant funds in 2019 and formally established the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center on its Macon campus. MUSM boasts a longstanding commitment to serving rural Georgia’s health needs, with a mission to educate physicians dedicated to tackling the health challenges in rural Georgia. The Rural Health Innovation Center serves as a critical resource to rural communities to improve access and effectiveness of health care by offering research, collaboration, and training opportunities.
| | | | |
