Telehealth and Distance Learning: Taking the KUMC to Schools

Across the State

KUMC Faculty RetreatSeptember 19, 2008

Kathy Davis, Ph.D.www.connectedkansaskids.com

kdavis2@kumc.edu(913) 588-6305

The Need• Kansas - large rural make-up• Challenges in providing accurate

information to rural schools, enabling them to plan for the unique needs of kids with chronic illness– broad geographic range– each child/needs very different, even

w/same diagnosis

• Need to find a way to disseminate information to schools of students with chronic or acute illness/injury

Connected Kansas Kids

In the beginning……

– Program to provide K-12 education professionals with education and training regarding the needs of students with chronic physical or mental health conditions

• Student specific• Staff development

Made possible by…..

In conjunction with….

And the University of Kansas

Utilizing Technology

• Telemedicine

• Interactive distance learning

• Internet connectivity

• Website

Original Goals of CKK

• To serve rural and medically underserved areas

• To connect educators and health care providers to aid in effective planning for students with chronic illness

First 3 years of project

• Staff development– ITV presentations from KUMC to schools– 50 topics

• Chronic illness• Special education law• Special topics

• Website – focus on education & coping with chronic illness– Child, parents, siblings, peers, educators, etc.

Connected Kansas Kids (CKK)www.connectedkansaskids.com

KU Medical Kansas

Center Schools

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) Consortia in Kansas

• Many schools in these consortia; additional schools operating independently

• 287 school districts in Kansas utilize IDL

Responding to Schools’ Requests

• Additional topics for education professionals

• Health topics of interest for students

• Later, e-mentoring program for high school students interested in careers in health care

Health Care Shortage in U.S.

• Rural population in US – 20%; 61 million• Less than 9% of physicians practiced in

nonmetropolitan counties (1)• Health care labor shortage expected to last

through 2050• By 2010, US will need 1.7 million nurses;

635,000 will be available (2)

1. Ricketts TR III, ed. Rural Health in the United States. Oxford University Press; 1999.2. Buerhaus P, Staiger DO, Auerbach DI. Implications of an aging registered nurse workforce.

Journal of the American Medical Association. 2000;283:2948-2954.

At KU Medical Center

• The KU Medical Center recognizes the importance of meeting the wide range of health care needs in Kansas – from the critical need for primary care in rural and other underserved areas of the state, to the urgent need for highly specialized knowledge to provide the latest preventive and treatment techniques available. KU Medical Center

Once again…..

KU Medical Kansas

Center Schools

Birth of New CKK Offerings– Health Careers Promotion

– Health Topics of Interest for Students

Health Careers Promotion

• Presented by professionals at KUMC– Very positive response– Team approach

• One Health Career presentation/month• One Health Topic of Interest

presentation/month• Up to 4 schools per presentation

– Interaction with presenter– Interaction between schools

Presenters• Physicians• Nurses• Physical therapists• Occupational therapists• Speech/language

pathologists• Dietitians• Respiratory therapists• Physician assistants• Social workers• Clinical lab scientist

Health Careers

• Careers in:– Pulmonology– Surgery– Clinical lab science– Emergency medicine– Trauma Medicine– Rehabilitation Medicine– Dietetics and Nutrition– Psychology and Psychiatry

Health Careers in Emergency Medicine

Outcomes – Student Responses

• Increased interest in health careers 92%

• Information helpful in determining

what courses to take in high school 92%

• Satisfied with quality of instruction 100%

• Would recommend to others 100%

• Convenient method of instruction 100%

• Comfortable w/ method of instruction 100%

Health Topics of Interest for Students

• Effects of Nicotine• Protect Your Bones and Joints

(PB&J)• Methamphetamines • Bullying• Responsible Decision Making• Exercise and Fitness• Obesity and Diabetes Prevention• Depression, Anxiety and Stress

Outcomes – Student Responses

• Increased understanding of health issue 100%• Would like to take more courses over ITV 100% • Satisfied with quality of instruction 100%• Would recommend to others 100%• Convenient method of instruction 94%• Comfortable w/ method of instruction 100%

CKK E-Mentoring

• 96 mentoring pairs– Medical student mentors– Urban underserved and rural area high

school mentees• Advanced science courses• Interest in career in medicine

Current Funding

• 6-week curriculum– Breaking the ice– Creating a resume– Letters of recommendation– Life as a medical student– Career options– Paving the way/resources

E-mentoring Wrap-Up: Sawbones Lab

Connected Kansas Kids

• Website– Health information– Health career information (Fall 2008)

• Interactive Televideo Presentations– Staff development topics for education

professionals– Health topics of interest – Health career promotion

• E-mentoring project

New in Fall 2008

• Center for the Comprehensive Care of Children with Chronic Conditions (C6)– Educators– Child care providers– Clergy/spiritual leaders– Coaches– Scout leaders– Etc., etc., etc.

On the horizon

• “Live from the OR”

• High definition interactive

televideo

• Internet2

• Pre/post teaching

• Virtual field trip to the OR

• Live interactions with surgeon, others

For more information

Kathy Davis

kdavis2@kumc.edu

www.connectedkansaskids.com

(913) 588-6305