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Program Profile: The Expansion of Associated Health Training in the VA
Erin L Patel1, Jeffrey M Bates1, Jocelyn K Holguin1
1is an Acting Chief, Health Professions Education; is an Acting Director, Associated Health; and are National Affiliations Officers, Associated Health; is a Statistician, Associated Health; is an Acting Chief Academic Affiliations Officer; is a Senior Advisor; all in Office of Academic Affiliations, Veterans Health Administration, US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). is Chief of Medicine, VA Northern California Health Care System. is an Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health, Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, Veterans Health Administration, US Department of Veterans Affairs. Paul Greenberg is a Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology), Alpert Medical School, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Anthony Albanese is a Clinical Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Addiction Medicine) at UC Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, California. Karen Sanders is a Professor, Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia. Marjorie Bowman is an Emeritus Professor at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expanded associated health (AH) training, increasing funded positions by 33% to meet growing healthcare demands. This expansion focuses on interprofessional care and high-need clinical areas for veterans.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare education
- Veterans Affairs
- Associated Health professions
Background:
- The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) trains approximately 21,000 health professions trainees annually in associated health (AH) occupations.
- There is a growing demand for AH professionals across all clinical settings.
- The VA Office of Academic Affiliation has focused on expanding AH education over the past decade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the expansion of AH education within the VA.
- To highlight the importance of increasing AH education broadly in the United States.
- To detail the demand for AH professionals, the scope of funded AH training in the VA, and targeted expansion efforts.
Main Methods:
- The VA provides clinical training for over 40 AH professions, with funding for 17.
- Expansion efforts over the last 10 years included a 33% increase in stipend-funded positions.
- Targeted initiatives focused on interprofessional training, VA strategic goals, rural populations, and postgraduate-degree conversion.
Main Results:
- A 33% increase in stipend-funded AH training positions was achieved.
- Expansion efforts specifically targeted interprofessional training, VA strategic initiatives, and rural populations.
- There was a strategic conversion of pregraduate-degree positions to postgraduate-degree positions.
Conclusions:
- Continued focus on interprofessional care and health professions education is crucial for meeting national healthcare needs.
- The VA has increased stipend-funded AH training positions by 33% to address veteran healthcare needs and target high-need clinical areas.
- Future expansion is expected in postgraduate-degree training and rural healthcare training programs.