July 15, 2007
The annual Health Aide Conference in St. Mary’s gave health aides around the Delta an opporunity to earn credits toward their certification as well as network with their colleagues in other villages. (YKHC file photo—2006 Health Aide Conference.)
St. Mary’s Health Aide conference cancelled
The Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) has announced the cancellation of what would have been its 20th annual St. Mary’s Health Aide Conference.
The three-day event has traditionally brought Health Aides from across the YK Delta for training and skill building, providing a setting outside of Bethel for Health Aides to gain Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits towards their certification.
YKHC has been evaluating alternative ways to provide the training in the most cost effective manner that benefits the Health Aides and the organization.
“It was a great support mechanism for our Health Aide workforce,” said Jack Robert Crow, Vice President for Health Services. “We’re looking at offering the same support and training in a similar setting through less expensive alternatives and [more] convenience to our Health Aides.”
In recent years, attendance numbers have decreased while expenses have risen considerably. Last year, 34 Health Aides attended the conference, about 13 percent of the workforce, costing roughly $62,000 in travel and lodging expenses.
“We regretfully forego the annual St. Mary’s Conference,” said Bill Schreiner, Director of CHAP Education. “Instead, we will be offering a number of outstanding CME trainings in Bethel, including courses on Injury Prevention, Critical Incident Stress Management, Identification and Prevention of Drug & Alcohol Seeking Behaviors, Diabetes and more.”
Kassi Keene, Health Aide for Crooked Creek, expressed her disappointment, noting the camaraderie as the most encouraging aspect of the conference. “The training was good but to me the biggest thing about the conference was a chance for us to get together, see people we haven’t seen in a long time, and talk with people who can relate to the same situations,” said Keene.
For others like Lorena Martin, the only current Health Aide for Kipnuk clinic, attending the conference would have been out of the question due to the staffing shortage. “Even though I wouldn’t have been able to make it, the training in Bethel will be good, at least it will be closer to home,” said Martin.
Offering the training at the training center in Bethel is the most cost-effective.
“We can offer this outstanding range of learning programs with less time away from home and clinic for each Health Aide, and at reduced travel and lodging costs for the corporation,” said Schreiner. “By offering a greater range of CME opportunities, we feel that all Health Aides will be able to gain useful training in the areas most important to them and to the CHAP Program.”
Currently there are 158 Health Aides serving in 47 villages across the region. Despite steady recruitment efforts, three villages are without a clinic workforce—Lime Village, Pitka’s Point and Stony River.