NEVADA AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER PROGRAM

PROGRAM HISTORY/DEVELOPMENT

Nevada AHEC was established by the Nevada Legislature in 1987 and provided additional authorization in 2003. Nevada Area Health Education Centers have offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Elko to provide services statewide to all Nevada counties.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The AHEC program mission is consistent with a national network of programs to enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventive care, by improving the supply and distribution of health care professionals through community/academic educational partnerships. The AHEC reaches out to rural and urban areas with shortages of health care professionals.  Continuing education classes, information services, student programs, library services, and innovations in distance linkages provide enhanced practice opportunities for health practitioners in Nevada.

HISTORICAL MILESTONES

• 1987 Area Health Education Center program established in School of Medicine
• 1987 Northeastern Nevada AHEC established in Elko
• 1989 Southern Nevada AHEC established in Las Vegas
• 1993 Nevada hosts National Association of AHEC (NAO) national meeting in Las Vegas
• 2003 High Sierra AHEC established in Reno
• 2003 Rural Nursing Partnership-AHEC, Great Basin College, Western Nevada Community College

PROGRAM STATISTICS AND OUTCOME MEASURES

Annually, the Nevada AHEC program provides statewide resources including:

• Recruitment programs for K-12 students into health professions training programs
• Contacts or provides programs for between 3500 and 4000 students and 100-150 teachers
• Coordinates with health professions training programs for 350- 400 rural and urban underserved training experiences;
• Provides CE/CME for between 2800 and 3500 health care professionals
• In FY 05-06, Southern Nevada AHEC provided outreach activities to over 28,000 health professionals, agencies, schools, students and partners.
• The Summer of Discovery, a science and math enrichment summer camp, is held during the summer break for 7 th and 8 th grade students. The focus of the camp is to keep kids excited and confident with their skills in math and science and to better prepare them for potential careers in health care fields.
• The High Sierra AHEC is currently working with the Department of Family and Community Medicine in LV to develop the Rural Training Track Program in Fallon. This graduate medical education program will bring resident training full time to this community and regional area.

For additional information, please contact the individual program offices:

High Sierra AHEC
5250 Neil Road, Suite 302
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 827-2432
(775) 827-0190 FAX

Northeastern AHEC
701 Walnut Avenue
Elko, NV 89801
(775) 738-3828
(775) 738-0689 FAX

Southern Nevada AHEC
1094 E. Sahara Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89104
1-877-318-AHEC (2432)
(702) 318-8452
(702) 318-8463 FAX