SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1997 SESSION


CHAPTER 329
An Act to amend and reenact § 32.1-122.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Statewide Area Health Education Centers Program.
[S 1141]
Approved March 13, 1997

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 32.1-122.7 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 32.1-122.7. Statewide Area Health Education Centers Program.

A. The Board, in cooperation with the Virginia Health Planning Board and the three medical schools in the Commonwealth, shall design and implement the Virginia Statewide Area Health Education Center Centers Program in order to attract and retain medical care practitioners in underserved areas of Virginia (AHEC) is a collaborative partnership conducted under the auspices of the Virginia Statewide AHEC Board of Directors. Generally, AHECs are nonprofit organizations with a governing or advisory board of individuals representing the services area. The mission of the Area Health Education Centers Program shall be designed to is to promote health careers and access to primary care for medically underserved populations through community-academic partnerships. The mission of the Virginia Statewide AHEC Program is accomplished through the following four major areas of program activity: (i) establish professional practice support systems by linking the benefits of the medical expertise and research of the three medical schools with the delivery of health services to indigent individuals and recipients of public assistance developing health careers recruitment programs for Virginia's students, especially underrepresented and disadvantaged students; (ii) encourage the graduates of the three medical schools to practice in the Commonwealth by recruiting students to enter primary care specialties and to practice in underserved areas supporting the community-based training of primary care health professions students, residents, and other health professions students in Virginia's underserved communities; (iii) promote the development and implementation of innovations in the delivery of community health services such as after-hours clinics in the three medical schools and community-based service demonstration projects providing educational and practice support systems for the Commonwealth's primary care providers; and (iv) anticipate and avoid critical physician shortages by expanding opportunities for family practice preceptorships, clerkships, and residencies collaborating with health, education, and human services organizations to facilitate and promote improved health education and disease prevention among the citizens of the Commonwealth.

B. The Board of Directors shall report annually the status and progress of the implementation of the Program's goals and objectives to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, the State Board of Health, and the Governor and the General Assembly.