The Center for Rural Health Innovation is seeking a new Program Assistant

The Center for Rural Health Innovation seeks a motivated, results focused Program Assistant for two innovative major projects in Mitchell and Yancey counties.  The Center is a non-profit organization with the mission of improving access to quality health care in rural communities using health and communication technologies and is based in Mitchell County. The two projects, the MY Health-e-Schools school-based telemedicine network and the Nurturing Our Own program, will work in combination to increase access to quality health care, support local students in their interests to pursue health careers, and expand the use of telemedicine technology in western North Carolina. The Program Assistant will be an integral part of the CRHI organization focused on the success of our major projects.

See the Data Page to download the complete job description.

Application accepted through Nov. 22nd, 2011

Appalachian Regional Commission Awards MY Health-e-Schools a $90,000 grant

August 4th, 2010

The Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded $90,000 equipment grant to the MY Health-e-Schools program.  This funding, combined with $40,000 from a local foundation, will pay for the telemedicine equipment necessary for the server backbone of the entire network and equipment at three schools, Micaville Elementary School in Yancey County and Harris and Bowman Middle schools in Mitchell County.

A new program director will be hired in the next 2 weeks to help with implementation.

MY Health-e-Schools is looking for a Project Coordinator:

June 25th, 2010

Part-Time Project Coordinator for emerging MY Health-e-Schools—A School-Based Telemedicine Program. Duties including, but not limited to: creating a business plan that includes billing and reimbursement systems, working closely with Advisory Board, establishing policies and procedures, grant writing and program evaluation.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Knowledge of non-profit management, insurance reimbursement and medical office management necessary. Will consider an individual with an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Competitive salary based on experience and education.  Resume and Letter of Interest accepted until 

July 11, 2010.

Contact:   

Amy Sheele, Executive Director

Graham Children’s Health Services of Toe River

          202 Medical Campus Drive

          Burnsville, N.C. 28714

          (828) 682-7899

          FAX (828) 682-6262

             gchs@trhd.dst.nc.us

MY Health-e-Schools Receives BCBS of NC Foundation Grant

May 18th, 2010

Today we received an ~$50,000 grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina Health of Vulnerable Populations Division.  This grant will allow us to provide the staff for our 3 site pilot project that we anticipate launching in fall of 2010.  The funds will be used to fund a 50% time nurse practitioner position and a 50% time program director position.

The 3 site pilot network is planned for Micaville Elementary School in Yancey County and Harris and Bowman Middle schools in Mitchell County.  In the coming months we will begin working with these schools to plan utilization and develop policy and procedures in place.

Year End Reflections

2009 was a very successful year for MY Health-e-Schools.  We have made great strides towards creating a school-based telemedicine network in Mitchell and Yancey counties.  Below, I’ve listed some of the highlights of the past year.

• Hired Suzette Renfro, RN, MPH as the program coordinator.  Suzette has worked passionately writing grants, developing a parent survey, and meeting with school and community groups to lay the groundwork for the network.
• Over 1,300 parent surveys were returned indicating overwhelming support for the use of telemedicine in the schools.  Over 58% of parents from both counties indicated that they would use or probably would use the network.  Less than 10% of parents indicated that they would not or probably would not use the network.
• The survey also showed that parents of students with public insurance, in 7^th-12^th grade, and who felt it would improve school performance were more likely to support using the network.
•  In September I presented the survey data at the 4^th Annual American Telemedicine Association’s Pediatric Telehealth Colloquium.
• In November I participated in a round table discussion of rural health issues with Sen. Kay Hagan.  The Senator expressed significant interest in the MY Health-e-Schools program and her staff has followed up with us, offering their support and assistance in applying for federal grants.
•  The Advisory Board supported the development of a pilot project involving 3 schools in Mitchell and Yancey counties.  This will allow us to test the equipment, understand the challenges of operating the system, and demonstrate how the network can benefit students, parents, and the schools.
•  Jodi Polaha, PhD, began providing telepsychology consultations between East Tennessee State University and Buladean School.
•  Tonda Gosnell, MHA, completed a feasibility study that demonstrates the network can be financially self-sustaining over the long term.
•  Overall we received $87,000 in grants for community assessments, network planning, and the initial purchase of equipment.  We continue to write grants for equipment for the pilot network and network management and evaluation.

 

Personally I would like to thank Graham Children’s Health Services, the MY Health-e-Schools Advisory Board, and both the Mitchell and Yancey County Schools for their support over the past year.  I’d particularly like to thank Tonda Gosnell, Amy Sheele, and Suzette Renfro for their encouragement and ongoing hard work on seeing this idea become a reality.

 

Happy New Year –

Steve North, MD, MPH

Medical Director

MY Health-e-Schools