The “Equipment to Enhance Training for Health Professionals” known as the EETHP Equipment Initiative supported by the Recovery Act is comprised of 21 health professional training programs. HRSA released the funding announcement (HRSA-10-194) on February 26th. The closing date for applications is March 26, 2010.
Funding for $50,000,000 will fund approximately 200 grant awards to be used to support multiple programs in purchasing health professionals training equipment. A different funding announcement is being offered for each of the 21 eligible programs comprising the EETHP initiative. This funding opportunity is for entities eligible for the EETHP-Basic/Core Area Health Education Centers (BAHEC) and the Model State Supported Area Health Education Centers (MAHEC).
The Institute of Medicine identified a large gap existing between the rapidly growing minority populations in the U.S. and their representation among health professionals. The Area Health Education Centers program addresses this issue through a range of training activities. Their goal is to increase the number of primary care physicians and other primary care providers in underserved area. The AHECs are trying to increase the number of minority and disadvantaged students seeking health professions as a career option.
For example, in North Carolina additional funding is available that is going to the North Carolina AHEC at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The funding will be used to hire and train more than 40 new positions in nine regions across the state to provide on-site technical assistance to primary care providers. This will require additional equipment.
Funds may only be used to purchase equipment to support the training for the BAHEC/MAHEC following activities:
• Equipment to use to help increase the number of primary care physicians and other primary care providers working in underserved areas
• Prepare individuals to more effectively provide health services to underserved areas or underserved populations
• To conduct health professions education and training activities for students of health professions schools and medical residents
• To conduct at least 10 percent of medical student required clinical education at remote sites
To receive the funding, the equipment has to be a tangible item with a unit cost of $5,000 or more and a useful life of one or more years.
For more information on this funding opportunity and others within the program, go to www.grants.gov or email Norma J. Hatot, CAPT, at nhatot@hrsa.gov or call (301) 443-2681.
