There is a clear national need to provide more effective and efficient delivery of health care services to individuals who are underserved. A primary goal noted in the report "Healthy People 2010" was to "Eliminate health disparities based on gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, geographic location, or sexual orientation." One approach to addressing this issue is through more effective use of Internet technology. Yet, the many disciplines comprising the allied health professions have not taken full advantage of the Internet as an adjunct to their practice.
Under a grant from the Bureau of Health Professions, the Center for Collaborative Research at Thomas Jefferson University is conducting an eHealth Training Institute in the summer of 2006, designed to provide occupational and physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists with the knowledge and skill to develop Web-based health programs to individuals in communities that are underserved. The Institute will be a week-long, hands-on experience to help prepare teams of allied health professionals to work collaboratively to
- learn how to establish an eHealth infrastructure in an underserved community,
- tailor health information to that community,
- develop an eHealth program to address community needs,
- evaluate the impact of the program on the health of the community, and
- incorporate principles of eHealth in practice, education and scholarship.
Applications [PDF] are now being solicited from three-person teams that include at least one representative from occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, or audiologists working with underserved populations.
Preference will be given to teams with one of the following characteristics:
- Teams currently working in underserved communities, either in urban or rural areas or with Native Americans
- Interdisciplinary teams of a combination of occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists working in underserved communities
- Teams comprised of at least one faculty member and one practicing clinician
- Teams with a research or educational plan to advance eHealth principles
In some cases, individuals working alone in underserved communities will be accepted.
The eHealth Training Institute will be held in Philadelphia from Saturday, June 24-Thursday, June 29, 2006. Funds are available to help defray travel and expenses for each team. Deadline for applications is March 3, 2006. Selection of teams will be completed by April 3, 2006.
For additional information: