CCE
In 2003, PICCEP is conducting its third year of CCE courses for physicians and other clinicians in the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Ebeye and Majuro), the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa. We offer 16-20 credit hours per course. Based on input from previous years' participants, courses address topics from the fields of internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, oral health, pharmacy, and other specialized subjects. Mental health and provider-patient communication will receive special emphasis in 2003, including on-site workshops on these topics. Our sessions attract physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinical staff.
Oral health
PICCEP's oral health program includes dental caries prevention strategies, instruction in major disease diagnosis and assistance identifying referral and treatment options. The program aims to optimize the use of non-dental providers in oral health and prevention. Oral health curriculum was included in PICCEP's 2002 CME courses. In addition, PICCEP's oral health faculty visited nine jurisdictions to work with the physicians, public health and dental personnel to translate the ideas presented in earlier visits into organizational planning and change. These visits emphasized the integration of preventive oral health strategies into primary medical care and bridging the gap between the dental program and other aspects of primary care.
Health assistants
During 2002, PICCEP developed a CCE plan for health assistants who staff dispensaries in remote locations throughout the Pacific jurisdictions. The plan included updating current health assistants, identifying and training new health assistants, and supporting and expanding health assistant infrastructure. These plans have been based on the model developed and successfully implemented in remote sites in Alaska. The University of Washingtons MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program with a long history of linkages to health worker programs in Alaska and internationally continues to seek support for this important work. For information on the initiative contact Ruth Ballweg, MPA, PA-C, Director, MEDEX Northwest at 206-616-4001 (rballweg@u.washington.edu).
Teleconferencing
PICCEP is exploring the use of video-teleconferencing technology (VTC) in CCE followup and presentation to regional meetings. In September 2002, the Medical Director of PICCEP presented a report on Year 3 PICCEP activities to the PBMA meeting in Kosrae from an office in Seattle via VTC. The VTC was facilitated by PEACESAT staff at the University of Hawaii and telecommunications staff at the University of Washington.
Supplementing Hospital Reference Materials
In 2001, PICCEP purchased and distributed a total of $40,000 worth of medical reference resources to hospitals in Palau, Yap, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, RMI, American Samoa, Guam, and CNMI. The references (books, CD-ROMs, journals, posters, etc.) were selected based on input from each hospital. Approximately 600 books, pamphlets, CD-ROMs, journals and wall charts were purchased for delivery to the sites. Download: Medical Reference Resource Supplementation
Planning & Needs Assessment
Survey of Physician CME Needs
In order to develop targeted CME programs, PICCEP surveyed physicians in all U.S.-associated jurisdictions about their CME needs and opportunities. The survey was distributed by e-mail, web and paper copy in May-June, 2000. Results: Although the majority (71%) of the 143 respondents had access to regular local CME activities, the perceived value of these were generally low. Additionally, only 45% had attended a formal CME course in the previous year. Respondents' priority learning needs included diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, as well as skills such as EKG, X-ray interpretation, trauma management and cardiac life support. Among the 62% of physicians who said they had access to a medical library, only a minority (7%) said they found their library useful. Implications: Although physicians themselves perceive the importance of CME, they are often limited by inadequate access to high quality CME events and to medical reference resources.
Guam Planning Meeting
PICCEP held a meeting for regional input into the structure
and content of continuing clinical education programs in Tamuning, Guam in July,
2000.
Click
Here to Download Report!
Regional Planning Site Visits
In spring 2000, PICCEP made planning site visits to each of the following places: Republic of Palau; Majuro, Kwajalein and Ebeye, Republic of the Marshall Islands; Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap, Federated States of Micronesia; Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and Hawaii.
Meetings With Key Affiliated Organizations
Representatives of PICCEP regularly participate in regional health care planning forums, including periodic meetings of the Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA), the Pacific Basin Medical Association (PBMA) and the American Pacific Nursing Leaders Council (APNLC), as well as one-time meetings on specific topics of interest (e.g., primary care, telehealth and oral health). At these forums, PICCEP emphasizes that ongoing CCE programs are important components of high quality health care systems.