The Indian Health Service Child Abuse Project is offering an educational program to provide specialized training to IHS (Indian Health Service) and Tribal medical professionals (specifically pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) in the clinical diagnosis and management of child maltreatment with a special emphasis on child physical and sexual abuse.
This training for the 2003 two-year cycle is provided through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Center on Child Abuse and Neglect and Project Making Medicine, and involves educating IHS and Tribal professionals in a resource method with the purpose of increasing the number of medical providers available to serve child victims and be a resource for other medical professionals needing consultation on child maltreatment via telemedicine.
This training requires a two-year commitment from both the applicant and the sponsoring organization. Within this time each applicant commits, with the support of their employing agency, to implementing diagnostic and management services at their respective site to child victims of abuse and neglect, establishing a working telemedicine link for consultation and training, utilizing the resources set up by the project for consultation and data collection, implementing site specific policies and procedures, participating in monthly Grand Rounds for continuing education for keeping current in the field of child abuse and neglect, and providing consultative assistance to other medical providers/agencies in the participant's geographic area. The training is specific to Native populations and the unique characteristics of Tribal people. Faculty include traditional Native Healers, Native professionals, and medical professionals who have expertise in evaluation, treatment and prevention of child maltreatment.
Specific course requirements:
Year 1:
Adherence to all policies and procedures of the IHS Child Abuse Project
Forty hours of didactic training in the medical evaluation of child maltreatment (May 16-20, 2005)
Forty hours of beginning clinical training (year 1 preceptorship) with a national expert (to be scheduled at the convenience of the participant and expert)
Telemedicine link with Project Director established and maintained
Clinical consultation via telemedicine on all cases conducted
Submit specific data related to cases conducted
Timely submission of specific data related to cases conducted
Participation in telemedicine Grand Rounds with CME's (scheduled)
Year 2:
Adherence to all policies and procedures of the IHS Child Abuse Project
Telemedicine monthly Grand Rounds (scheduled)
Forty hours of advanced clinical/didactic training (year 2 preceptorship) with a national expert on how to evaluate cases, photodocumentation, and create a written document of findings (to be scheduled at the convenience of the participant and expert) with CME's
Clinical consultation via telemedicine on cases conducted (which ones or all to be determined on an individual basis by the Project Director)
Submit specific data related to all cases conducted
Implementation of site-specific policies and procedures
Participation in telemedicine Grand Rounds with CME's (scheduled)
Site visit by Project Director
Participate in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the training over the length of the training commitment (2 years).
Funding is available from the Indian Health Service (IHS) to train medical professionals for the two-year period (2005-6). The project will provide for each participant/site:
Funding for 100% of each participant's travel/lodging/per diem for the one week didactic training in Salt Lake City
All conference costs including training manual
Funding for 50% of the equipment (camera, software) needed by the participating site up to $1,600 (camera estimate $1,000 and software estimate $2,200; half of this amount will be reimbursed to the service unit/employing agency after the IHS Child Abuse Project receives the completed requisition and invoice as proof of goods received for the camera/software)
The plaque or certificate after successful course completion
Each participant's sponsoring organization must provide:
Funding for 50% of the equipment (camera, software) needed by the participating site up to $1,600 (camera estimate $1,000 and software estimate $2,200; half of this amount will be reimbursed to the service unit/employing agency after the IHS Child Abuse Project receives the completed requisition and invoice as proof of goods received for the camera/software)
Total funding for each participant's travel/lodging/per diem for the one week beginning year 1 preceptorship (Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Oklahoma City, or Jacksonville)
Total funding for each participant's travel/lodging/per diem for the one week advanced year 2 preceptorship (Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Oklahoma City, or Jacksonville)
A secure computer (either lap top or desk top) WITH INTERNET ACCESS AND MICROSOFT OUTLOOK (NOT OUTLOOK EXPRESS) E-MAIL to store confidential case data and to conduct program activities
Timely computer technical assistance to install/maintain software in functional status
Participation in this project provides specific and significant benefits to the medical provider, the service unit/facility/agency, and the child abuse victim and family. Provider participation in the project includes hardware (digital camera), software, resources, training, and consultation. All equipment becomes property of the service unit/agency. The ability to do these examinations at the local level allows for several things. The exam can be done immediately if needed without the wait for an appointment so forensic evidence is best preserved. It saves the service unit/facility the cost of referral for victims for medical evaluation. Consultation can be obtained on any/all cases via computer without cost to the facility or victim and can be done immediately at any time if needed. The child victim and family can stay in their home community to receive services where their religious, cultural, and family support systems are, without financial concerns for travel and care. The examination can be done by a medical provider that the victim and family are familiar with and who is culturally sensitive. Local medical care for child victims of abuse sets the framework for the development of a multidisciplinary team (that includes law enforcement, social services, victim advocates, others) to better and more efficiently process cases. Continuing Medical Education units (CME's) needed for professional licensure are provided by the Indian Health Service Clinical Support Center for all activities including the didactic training, preceptorships for both years, and monthly Grand Rounds via telemedicine.
Each applicant must have the following documents in their program file:
A letter of intent detailing the interest in the training, the intent to stay at the current employment site for 24 months (until program completion), the willingness to attend the forty hours of didactic training and preceptorship, utilize and implement all needed hardware/software, participate in telemedicine Grand Rounds; facilitate and host an on-site consultation by the Project Director (funded by the project), collect specific data related to cases and submit them in a timely manner, to follow all course policies and procedures, and to participate in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the training over the length of the training commitment (2 years).
A letter of commitment from their administrative supervisor/employing agency and also signed by the Tribal or IHS governing entity stating the applicant is permitted to participate in the training for the two-year duration of training, will implement the training upon return, the agency will procure, house, install, and maintain the hardware/software in a timely manner, will provide a computer with internet access and/or a modem line for the participant, will provide funds for the participant to attend the Year 1 and Year 2 preceptorships, host the Year 2 site visit (no cost involved), and will support continuing medical education in the area of child abuse and neglect.
A copy of current professional licensure
A curriculum vitae
The completed 2005-6 course registration form
The completed 2005-6 hardware/software needs inventory form
All completed documents should be submitted via regular mail, FedEx, or other ground carrier (the "2 Miles South of Bottle Hollow" is our ground address) to:
The Indian Health Service Child Abuse Project
CDR P. Jane Powers, Project Director
Ft. Duchesne Indian Health Center
P. O. Box 160
2 Miles South of Bottle Hollow
Ft. Duchesne, Utah 84026
All completed applications must be received in our office no later than APRIL 1, 2005.
