What you wanted to know about being a Preceptor

Faculty

Needs Statement

Collectively, Kentucky is one of the nation’s unhealthiest populations. The Commonwealth consistently ranks at or near the top of the list in smoking rates, obesity levels and a host of other poor health indicators. Naturally, the costs of treating disease and illness in Kentucky have also risen to meet the higher demand for health care services in our state.1 More than two-thirds of Kentucky’s 120 counties have been officially designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSA) for primary care by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In addition, Kentucky lacks sufficient numbers of physician specialists, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, mental health professionals and allied health personnel. This lack of skilled professionals contributes to fewer regular check-ups, poorer health, and higher costs to the medical system over the long term. In order for us to address the need for increased numbers of health professionals practicing in underserved areas, we must be able to train health professions students in these underserved areas. This will a) increase the likelihood that they will return to these or similar regions upon completing training, b) hone their clinical skills, and c) develop an understanding of, and appreciation for, diverse cultures. The challenge with a somewhat decentralized model of education such as this is to ensure that students receive comparable training regardless of location and to engage practitioner in the educational process as Community Based Faculty (CBF). To this end, the module presented here will enhance the quality of teaching partnerships across the Commonwealth and improve the health of Kentuckians by addressing the current and future manpower shortages among providers.

Target Audience

Any healthcare provider interested in being a mentor/preceptor.

Objectives

1. Discuss the value of being a CBF to the state of Kentucky
2. Review the expectations from the program, preceptor and student
3. Describe the benefits offered by the University to the CBF