These workshops are “Train the Trainer” sessions and are designed for professionals from agencies that plan to be involved in providing technical assistance to local communities in any one of the three areas of emphasis:
- Economic impact analysis
- Community health engagement (strategic health planning)
- Health budgeting (feasibility studies) for new or expanded health services
Participants will also receive an overview of how to conduct specific health budgeting studies such as:
- Primary care physician
- Emergency medical services (EMS)
- Adult day services
- Kidney dialysis
Each participant will receive a packet of selected materials and a CD with all materials presented. Additional hands-on computer training can be provided for one hour after the workshop, by individual arrangement.
Dr. Gerald A. Doeksen and Ms. Cheryl F. St. Clair will provide the RHW training. At times, additional trainers may be involved. Dr. Doeksen is Regents Professor/Health Economist for the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University, from which he holds an MS and PhD in Agricultural Economics. Dr. Doeksen was awarded the American Rural Health Association Research Award in 1984 for developing medical practice feasibility guidebooks and was honored in 1985 by the Journal of Emergency Medical Services for his guide for planning rural EMS systems. Dr. Doeksen has worked with Oklahoma communities and health providers for over 30 years. He co-founded Rural Health Works and contributes to this campus-community partnership by sharing his special expertise in measuring the economic benefits of the health sector and in development budget studies for health services.
Ms. St. Clair has over 30 years of experience in rural community development and 5 years of experience in hospital administration. Ms. St. Clair has a BS in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University. She has been involved in RHW from its inception and develops RHW partnerships and RHW tools. In addition to providing the RHW training, she develops RHW tools and provides ongoing technical assistance to other states.
Dr. Doeksen and Ms. St. Clair have expanded RHW to over 40 states by training teams to use the RHW tools to partner with their local communities. Ultimately, the objective of RHW is to train state teams in the RHW tools and these state teams can then assist local communities in providing and sustaining rural health services.