Continuing Education

The South Carolina AHEC Continuing Education (CE) program provides practicing healthcare professionals with continuing education seminars, workshops, lectures, and telecasts. All four AHEC Centers employ CE Coordinators from various health professions disciplines whose principal role is to assess, develop, and present continuing education programs to health professionals in their regions. National, regional, and local experts are used as lecturers and consultants. The South Carolina AHEC CE Coordinators work closely with hospital education departments, regional health professionals, associations and agencies, and educational institutions to deliver educational programs. Each year, educational needs assessments are utilized to identify learners’ needs and to measure satisfaction with AHEC programs. The CE Coordinators also serve as faculty for programs in their areas of expertise. The life long learning provided through the South Carolina AHEC Centers follows a set of “Best Practice Standards” designed by the CE Coordinators to assure quality in programming.

Areas of Focus

Nursing Workforce Improvement Project

This five-year project centers on the Magnet Hospital standards and the improvements they have brought to patient care and nurse recruitment and retention. Each year a statewide conference is held with experts on the standards. National and regional speakers have included Maggie McClure, Donna Havens, Dorothy Hill, and numerous other leaders in this area. The evaluation process is designed to measure the impact this training will have in both large and small hospitals in our state. Click Here for Nursing Excellence Conference Information.

Pharmacy Tech Updates

Recent regulatory changes in our state have provided and excellent opportunity for South Carolina AHEC to develop new training for Pharmacy Techs. Collaborating with the Medical University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College, a training program covering pharmacy law, math and pharmacology has been developed. These programs are offered across the state.

Surgical Technologist Credit

South Carolina AHEC is an approved provider of AST credits for surgical technologists. AST credits are the only credits accepted for surgical technologists' certification renewal. South Carolina AHEC upholds all requirements prescribed by the AST continuing education division. Additional information about the Association of Surgical Technologists can be found at: http://www.ast.org/professionals/continuing_ed.aspx

Disaster Preparedness & Response Training Network

The South Carolina AHEC received a HRSA funded grant to train health professionals to recognize, respond, and report possible terrorist emergencies. Activities include providing regional and statewide training programs, serving vulnerable populations including children and the elderly, and addressing high risk target areas including rural communities, ports/coastal areas, and nuclear/chemical facilities.  A Web site is also available with resources, links, and online courses. Click Here for DPRT Information.

South Carolina Health Occupations Outreach Learning System (SCHOOLS)

The South Carolina AHEC received a Health Resources & Services Administration grant in 2010 to expand its infrastructure by developing the South Carolina Health Occupations Outreach Learning System (SCHOOLS).

SCHOOLS is a collaboration between the AHEC Program Office at the MUSC and the four regional AHEC Centers to develop an affiliated network of 20 rural hospitals using technology to: (1) support the development and implementation of collaborative research initiatives across the state; (2) facilitate the delivery of curricula by on-campus faculty from MUSC to students participating in off-campus clinical rotations, and (3) provide educational programs for healthcare providers.

SCHOOLS uses the existing infrastructure of the Palmetto State Providers Network (PSPN) to disseminate educational content and facilitate communication directly with health professions students and clinicians located in communities distant from MUSC. Click Here for the SCHOOLS website.

Outstanding Educator of the Year

The Outstanding Educator of the Year is a award given by the Continuing Education Council to a Continuing Education Instructor who exhibits excellent teaching skills and quality of content as well as exemplary professionalism.

Previous Winners Include:

2006 - Judy Nichols, RN, MSN
2007 - Michael Frisina, MA
2008 - Robbie Leonard, MS, PT
2009-10 - No Awards Presented
2011 - Chireen Hyler, RNC, MSN

 

Continuing Education Coordinators

Graduate Medical Education • Health Professions Students' Program • Health Careers Program