West Virginia is often recognized for being ranked LAST in many areas of health including obesity rates and smoking. This is in sharp contrast to the state's COVID-19 response efforts, as WV was recognized nationally and internationally for its leading vaccination rates. Part of this success was due to the WV Vaccine Administration, Collaboration, and Support (WV VACS) Team, a partnership between the WV National Guard (WVNG), the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), and the WV Higher Education Policy Commission (WV HEPC). Faculty and students from various healthcare colleges and universities across the state collaborated with community partners, local health departments, and hospitals to deploy interprofessional teams of students to serve at vaccination clinics. This included students serving as vaccinators and in supportive care roles. Points of contact (POCs) were identified at each school and vaccination site and served as an effective communication method for the project coordinator hired through grant funding to support the initiative. The project coordinator and POCs communicated the needs of the community to the faculty and students and served as a valuable tool for outreach and engagement efforts. This talk will describe the process that allowed such a large collaborative effort to be successful, including the technology that was used to manage the extensive amount of data and required training for over 1000 student volunteers from 9 different healthcare disciplines. Details of surveys given to student volunteers and site POCs will be shared as well as the results. Plans for future use of this strategy for other health initiatives will also be discussed.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the OICPD is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The OICPD maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change
