- The National AHEC Organization received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a project to provide education to health professionals regarding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Selected AHEC entities in all 50 states will work to increase awareness as well as train health professionals about the HPV vaccine, in an overall effort to increase HPV vaccination rates.
- Project strategies:
- Provide clinician outreach and training
- Utilize CDC’s “You Are the Key” and other materials to provide continuing education opportunities in all 50 states, targeting primary care clinicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and physician assistants as well as vaccine influencers such as medical office staff and others. An emphasis is also placed on educating health professions students in their final years.
- Disseminate educational materials
- Distribute CDC and other evidence-based educational materials to health professionals and health professions students through the AHEC regional, state and local connections.
- Increase and form strong partnerships
- Develop national-level partnerships with other CDC-funded projects as well as national healthcare and cancer organizations; increase partnerships with health profession schools to integrate training into curriculum and provide training to high-level health profession students.
- Push for the prioritization of HPV vaccination efforts
- Bring the HPV vaccine as cancer prevention message to national level officials, insurers, and others to increase awareness.
- State AHECs: One AHEC entity per state has been selected to carry out state and local HPV project training activities with coordination by four project specialists in the areas of marketing; partnership development; continuing education and AHEC integration.
- Provide clinician outreach and training
YRAHEC is working with partners across South Dakota to bring current HPV resources and education to health professionals, especially in rural and underserved communities. If you are interested in HPV education, Continuing Education Opportunities, becoming an HPV Champion in South Dakota, or would like more information on how to become involved, please contact us at info@yrahec.org
For more information on the national project and to view past HPV and Immunization webinars, please visit the National AHEC Organization’s HPV Project webpage: https://www.nationalahec.org/index.php/what-we-do/national-training-center/hpv-project/resources-for-health-professionals