The AHEC program supports efforts to promote an appropriate and adequate health care workforce to meet healthcare needs in all regions of Vermont, including rural and underserved areas. It also supports public-private partnerships between three independent regional AHEC offices and one statewide program office at the UVM College of Medicine. Together, these organizations assess local health care provider capacity and need, promote residency and placement of medical students in local private practices, promote careers in health care among local college, high school and middle school students through structured enrichment programs in healthcare settings. Specifically, the AHEC program:

1. Identifies local and statewide workforce needs.
2. Develops and implements strategies among a wide range of current and future health care professionals.
3. Develops and implements programs to increase public awareness and interest in healthcare professions (i.e. workforce pipeline development) among Vermont students, graduates and mid-career adults.
4. Conducts needs assessment/data analyses of health care provider capacity and technical assistance need.
5. Sponsors educational programs addressing specific needs of rural providers and underserved populations.
6. Administers loan repayment programs for VT primary care providers, dentists, nurses and nurse faculty.
7. Supports community health education programs through 3 regional AHEC Offices.
8. Manages a systematic continuum of education, training, and quality improvement programming to health care practitioners.
9. Promotes community engagement and linkages between practitioners and communities to address chronic diseases and other community health needs.

This is a public-private partnership. These expenditures help to support four AHEC programs, including a statewide program located at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and three independent regional AHEC offices located in St. Johnsbury, St. Albans, and Springfield.

Investment objective:

Encourage the formation and maintenance of public-private partnerships in health care, including initiatives to support and improve the health care delivery system

SFY18 Costs = $556,100

% allocated to Global Commitment investment: 100%

The Vermont Department of Health will monitor this plan in two ways:

1. The Performance Management Committee will review all investment programs and associated performance measures annually.
2. Commissioners and Division Directors will review selected measures at bi-weekly leadership meetings.