At MomentMD, our mission is to improve people’s lives through value-based care. It may sound lofty, but it’s necessary nonetheless.
The United States has been in the throes of a healthcare worker shortage since the onset of COVID-19–and it’s only getting worse. The shortage has resulted in understaffing at many healthcare facilities nationwide, causing an estimated 83 million Americans to live without access to care, and leaving thousands of aspiring healthcare professionals without preceptors to mentor them on their journey. Our goal is to change that–one university program at a time.
Background
Bay Path University, known for its commitment to innovative and student-focused education, offers a comprehensive Physician Assistant (PA) Program designed to prepare students for successful careers in healthcare. The program emphasizes hands-on experience and real-world applications to ensure that graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of the medical profession.
Challenge
The PA Program at Bay Path University faced several challenges in providing its students with high-quality clinical placements, including:
- Limited Access to Preceptors: Due to an increasingly competitive landscape for clinical sites, the program needed assistance in securing enough clinical preceptors, particularly in specialized areas of medicine.
- Geographical Constraints: Many students were located in areas with limited access to healthcare facilities, making it difficult for them to complete their required clinical hours without significant travel or relocation.
- Need for Modern Healthcare Training: The evolving nature of healthcare, particularly the rise of telemedicine, requires students to gain experience in digital health solutions. The program needed a way to integrate this component into their clinical training effectively.
Bay Path University was looking for a solution that would:
- Provide sufficient and diverse clinical precepting opportunities.
- Reduce the burden of geographical constraints on students.
- Incorporate telemedicine into the clinical training curriculum to prepare students for modern healthcare delivery.
Solution
MomentMD proposed a comprehensive telemedicine precepting service, tailored to meet the specific needs of Bay Path University’s PA Program. The key elements of this solution included:
- Telemedicine Precepting Network: We offered access to our extensive network of telemedicine preceptors, covering a wide range of specialties. This network allowed students to complete their clinical rotations virtually, ensuring they received the necessary hands-on experience without traveling.
- Customized Telemedicine Training: Understanding the importance of digital health, we integrated a telemedicine training module into the clinical rotations. This module was designed to equip students with the skills required to deliver high-quality care in a virtual setting, aligning with the future of healthcare.
- Flexibility and Accessibility: Our platform provided students with the flexibility to schedule their clinical rotations around their academic and personal commitments, making it easier for them to complete their required hours.
These solutions were proposed to address the specific challenges Bay Path University was facing:
- Access to Preceptors: By leveraging our telemedicine network, we significantly expanded the pool of available preceptors, ensuring students could complete their clinical requirements without delays.
- Overcoming Geographical Barriers: Telemedicine allowed students to engage in clinical practice from any location, effectively eliminating geographical constraints.
- Future-Proof Training: The integration of telemedicine training ensured that students not only met current educational requirements but also gained valuable experience in a field that is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern healthcare.
Results
The implementation of MomentMD’s telemedicine precepting services yielded several positive outcomes for Bay Path University’s PA Program:
- Increased Preceptor Availability: The program successfully secured enough preceptors to meet the needs of all students, even in specialized areas of medicine.
- Enhanced Student Experience: Students reported a positive experience with the telemedicine precepting, appreciating the flexibility and the opportunity to learn in a cutting-edge field.
- High-Quality Training: The telemedicine module was well-received by both students and faculty, who recognized the importance of this training in preparing students for the future of healthcare.
- Learnings and Future Plans: This partnership showcased the importance of flexibility and innovation in clinical training. The success of the telemedicine precepting service at Bay Path University has opened the door for further collaboration. Future plans include expanding the telemedicine curriculum, exploring additional specialties, and possibly incorporating more advanced digital health technologies into the training.
“Our program has worked with MomentMD for about the last two years. During this time, we have been able to give our students access to virtual opportunities in the fields of psychiatry, pediatrics, and women’s health. MomentMD’s coordinators and preceptors have jumped through hoops to ensure a positive learning environment for upwards of 50 of our students so far. We are grateful for the partnership and future with MomentMD.” – Jessica Cerrato, Director of Clinical Education.
Good things to come.
Interested in learning how MomentMD can help place your students in top-tier clinical placements? Get in touch with us here.