Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc. (EATs) is a tribally operated non-profit health corporation that provides the sole source of comprehensive primary services in the Aleutians East Borough (AEB). EATs has matured into one of the most dynamic and progressive Native health organizations in Alaska.

http://www.easternaleutiantribes.com/

For further information, contact:
Mary M. Rydesky, (907) 564-2418 or MaryR@EATribes.net

PRESS RELEASE

by Ladonna Lindley

A pioneering approach to teach basic skills to Community Health Aides by distance education culminated last month in an online graduation ceremony when seven students were lauded for exploring learning in a new place where "here" and "now" take on different meanings.

The "here" involved overcoming the distance and isolation of remote Alaskan communities with state-of-the-art videoconferencing systems and the "now" translated into immediate access to resources through use of the Distance Learning Network (DLN) at Eastern Aleutian Tribes.

The innovative learning process was a collaborative effort by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Anchorage CHAP Training Center, Chugachmiut, and Eastern Aleutian Tribes.

The inaugural class consisted of Jeremy Jeffries of Nondalton, Henry Erickson, Chignik Lagoon; Michael Trefon, Newhalen; Crystal Talyat, Copper River; Wes Breedlove, Port Graham; Sandy Lopez, Cold Bay and Kendra Eguia, King Cove.

In developing the curriculum for distance, Instructors Dorothy Hight and Kas Healy forged the way through new teaching methods in classrooms without walls and as noted by Chris Devlin, CEO of Eastern Aleutian Tribes, "set the standard for distance learning in Alaska."

Distance learning allowed students to stay in their villages during the 16-week course, reducing disruption to their families and communities, and saving considerable funds in travel and per diem for their sponsoring tribal entities. It incorporated twice weekly videoconferences with study tools and assignments through DLN's online learning management system that permitted content review as often as needed for full understanding. The DLN also allowed the use of the Internet for chats and forums so that the students could interact with their instructors as well as with one another despite being hundreds of miles apart.

The effort would not have been successful without the mentors who assisted the students with development of practical skills or the support of their sponsoring corporations: Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, Copper River Native Association, Chugachmiut, and Eastern Aleutian Tribes.

In his keynote address, Dr. Walter Johnson who was instrumental in developing Alaska's unique Community Health Aide program over 50 years ago, reiterated that the new health aides will provide significant service to the residents of their communities and also challenged them to be "health enhancement mentors," improving the quality of life, particularly in the areas of coronary, stroke, obesity, diabetes and cancer which are the leading causes of death among Alaskan Natives.

These new health aides will continue their education at Session Two at local training centers. Once they have successfully completed the four sessions of CHA training plus a clinical skills preceptorship and examination, they will qualify as Community Health Practitioners.

Special speakers at the June 15 event included Paul Sherry, CEO, ANTHC; Dr. Kenneth Glifort, Area Deputy Director/Chief Medical Officer, Indian Health Services; and Robert Clark, CEO, BBAHC.

The mission of EATs' Distance Learning Network is to collaboratively deliver health care learning opportunities to rural health care providers through the use of distance delivery technologies and was initially made possible by a RHODEN grant from the Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA).