Certificate of Rural Community Health

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Certificate of Rural Community Health
There continues to be a shortage of physicians and other health care providers
in many parts of rural Alabama. Research suggests that people who grow up in
rural areas are much more likely than others to return to rural areas to practice
medicine. In 1996, The University of Alabama School of Medicine (UASOM), through
its Tuscaloosa campus College of Community Health Sciences (CCHS), instituted
the Rural Medical Scholars Program (RMSP). This is an alternative pathway for rural
Alabama students to prepare themselves for future work as primary care physicians
in rural parts of the state.
The RMSP, a five-year program that leads to a medical degree (MD), has a separate
admissions process. As part of the RMSP, students develop camaraderie with
fellow students and form a support network with rural health professionals. To
begin developing this important support system, the Rural Medical Scholars spend
the academic year prior to entry into medical school involved in a basic rural
health curriculum on the Tuscaloosa campus. Some of these students are college
seniors pursuing a bachelor’s degree at The University of Alabama (UA), and some
already have this degree. Following successful completion of this pre-matriculation
experience, the path of medical education continues with basic science courses
at the UASOM Birmingham campus for two years and clinical work at the UASOM
Tuscaloosa campus for two years.
The RMSP has developed its own set of courses, sometimes in collaboration with
other colleges at UA, which meets the needs of Rural Medical Scholars. This set
of courses is designed to meet the needs of both undergraduate and graduate
students. Undergraduate students will still meet the requirements for graduation.
Students with special needs will still take appropriate courses. The Certificate of
Rural Community Health will provide recognition to all of these students for the work
they do in a CCHS core set of five courses.
Certificate Program Objectives
1. Provide students with the basic tools, principles and knowledge to be able
to investigate rural health issues and to determine solutions to rural health
problems.
2. Create a support network among students, rural physicians, other rural health
and agricultural professionals, and rural residents.
3. Keep students from rural Alabama connected with their rural roots to increase
the probability that they will return as rural health practitioners.
Completion Requirements
The Certificate requires successful completion (earn a grade of B or better in each
course) of 15 credit hours in five courses (three hours each) from the following:
Rural Environmental and Occupational Health*
Hours
Rural Envir/Occup Health
3
CHS 500
Rural Envir/Occup Health
3
HHE 500
Rural Environ/Occupatnl Health
3
*Introduces basics of rural environmental and occupational health. Students acquire
knowledge of biological, chemical, physical, safety and ergonomic health hazards
common to the rural South. Safety regulations and preventive measures are
explored where applicable.
Hours
CHS 420
Basic Epidemiology
3
CHS 520
Basic Epidemiology
3
HHE 521
Basic Epidemiology
3
*Acquaints students with basic epidemiological methods and principles. Emphasis is
on study design and sources of error. The investigation of disease etiology and risk
factors are the focus of this course.
Community Clinical Process I*
Hours
CHS 422
Community Clinical Proc
3
CHS 522
Community Clinical Proc
3
*Explores the roles and responsibilities of rural primary care physicians as they
address the health and health care needs of individuals, families and communities.
Communication basics and interviewing skills are explored and practiced. Health
care practice issues such as physician/patient relationships, confidentiality and
HIPPA Guidelines, as well as ethics in medicine, are presented. In addition, basic
clinical assessment skills and techniques, including a comprehensive health history
and physical exam, are introduced. Fieldwork includes shadowing primary care
physicians, community interviews, health promotion activities and rural industry
tours.
CHS 425
Biostatistics
3
CHS 525
Biostatistics
3
HHE 526
Biostatistics
3
*Introduces basic statistical concepts and procedures in health-related research,
including descriptive statistics, probability, parametric procedures (e.g., t-tests,
analysis of variance, correlation, regression) and nonparametric procedures (chisquare tests and ranking procedures). Explores select data sets related to rural
community issues through the application of learned procedures and the production
of research reports.
Survey of Issues in Health Care Management*
CHS 527
Hours
Health Policy & Planning
3
*Explores current issues facing the health care industry. Issues are analyzed and
evaluated regarding health care sectors involved, level of importance and possible
solutions/outcomes, as well as stakeholder demands. Students are expected to
discuss and support analysis of health care issues.
Courses
CHS 101. Emergency Medical Services I. 3 sem. hrs.
CHS 155. Freshman Seminar. 3.00 sem. hrs.
Freshman Seminars provide an opportunity for faculty members in the College of
Community Health Sciences to engage with a small group of students (limited to
no more than 20 students) in the context of a subject related to medicine or health
related topics that is personally and professionally meaningful. The structure of the
freshman seminar allows for flexibility in instructional methods.
CHS 200. Health & Wellness Advocacy. 3 sem. hrs.
Education and training in core peer education skills preparing for certification as
Peer Educator (CPE). Health and wellness education targeted to college age in :
alcohol/substance use, tobacco, stress, nutrition/fitness, eating disorders, financial
management, sexual health/ healthy relationships.
CHS 210. Principles of Weight Mgt.. 3 sem. hrs.
This course will explore multiple aspects of weight management through a holistic
health approach. Components of nutrition, stress management, physical activity
principles and techniques within an ecological framework will be emphasized.
CHS 330. Intro Clinical Medicine. 3 sem. hrs.
Course is designed in lecture format to acquaint students engaged in premedical
studies with the major patterns of illness in the U.S. and with the medical disciplines
that treat those diseases. Enrollment limited to junior and senior premed students.
CHS 400
Epidemiology*
Hours
Biostatistics*
CHS 400. Rural Envir/Occup Health. 3 sem. hrs.
Designed to help the student recognize environmental and occupational health
hazards in the rural setting, the effects of exposure to these hazards, and preventive
measures that should be taken to avoid them.
CHS 420. Basic Epidemiology. 3 sem. hrs.
A basic course in epidemiology designed for students in health or related fields
which points out the population-oriented approach to epidemiology and shows
how the methodology can be used to develop knowledge of disease etiology with
application to the entire spectrum of health service.
CHS 422. Community Clinical Proc. 3 sem. hrs.
A combination of scheduled sessions and fieldwork. Field work includes visiting with
assigned rural advisor, completing a rural community assessment, and assisting with
community health screenings and education programs.
CHS 423. Indep Stdy Community Med. 1-6 sem. hr.
An individual learning experience that involves the student in documentation of,
evaluation of, and/or strategic planning for solving a community health problem.
CHS 425. Biostatistics. 3 sem. hrs.
Statistical methods and concepts particularly appropriate for biomedical research
and health-related subjects.
CHS 427. Health Policy & Planning. 3 sem. hrs.
A problem-based learning seminar that introduces the student to the field of health
policy and planning.
CHS 432. Comm Clinical Process II. 3 sem. hrs.
Continuation of studies from CHS 422, including introduction to basic physical
assessment techniques and continuation of a community project.
The University of Alabama
1
CHS 442. Practical Issues Behav Medicin. 3 sem. hrs.
Lectures and readings will examine behaviors that compromise overall health
status (eg, tobacco use, noncompliance) and behavioral aspects of specific medical
conditions (eg, heart disease, cancer, pain). Topics will include bioethics, racial/
ethnic disparities and rural mental health issues. Writing proficiency within this
discipline is required for a passing grade in this course.
CHS 490. Clncal Correlations in Biochem. 3 sem. hrs.
The purpose of this course is to study biochemical principles in a clinical context and
to observe the process of medical information assembly and reasoning in clinical
care.
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Certificate of Rural Community Health
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