AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ALLIANCE

We do development differently

PRESENTATION OUTLINE AIHA Background & Overview Our Partnership Model Our Support to Clinical Associates Programs and Profession in South Africa Conclusion & Next Steps

AIHA’S MISSION STATEMENT

AIHA’s mission is to help resource-constrained communities and nations make positive, holistic,

and sustainable changes that improve health outcomes.

WHAT WE DO TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES1. Collaborate with host country governments to identify local

needs, implement responsive programs, and ensure long-term sustainability

2. Strengthen health systems by establishing new cadres and developing health workforces to fill critical human resource gaps

3. Build capacity among local institutions and organizations to improve the quality of care AIHA achieves this through our unique partnership model.

Educational Institutions

Professional Associations

National Authorities

Regulatory Bodies

Health Needs

Health Services and Outcomes

OUR APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

KEY ELEMENTS OF OUR MODEL Peer-to-peer relationships built through institution-to-institution partnerships Emphasis on professional exchanges and mentoring Voluntary contributions and leveraging of resources Non-prescriptive but rigorous approach to process Demand driven with high levels of recipient investment and ownership

Launched health systems strengthening programming in South Africa in 2005 Partnerships to date: Brits Hospital / Foundation for Professional Development (2005 - 2007)

Foundation for Professional Development / University of California - San Francisco School of Nursing (2007 - 2010)

University of the Free State, Centre for Health Systems Research and Development / State University of New York Downstate Medical Center (2007 - 2010); CDC-funded Public Health Evaluation as a result of partnership

Volunteer Healthcare Corps - South Africa Preceptors Initiative (2007 - 2010)

Walter Sisulu University / University of Colorado - Denver (2010 - Present)

University of Witwatersrand / Emory University School of Medicine (2010 - Present)

University of Pretoria / Arcadia University (2011 - Present)

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University / St. Louis College of Pharmacy (2013 - Present)

AIHA’S WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA

NEW CADRE DEVELOPMENT Critical shortages, poor distribution, lack of retention and performance gaps of human resources for health hinder the delivery of quality healthcare. Countries like South Africa are increasing the training and deployment of new health care workers to meet the needs of their health system, particularly in high HIV burdened, rural and underserved areas.

In South Africa, the Twinning Center supports two new cadres: • Medical: Clinical Associates (equivalent to Physician

Assistants)• Pharmacy: Pharmacy Technician

CLINICAL ASSOCIATES

AIHA supports three twinning partnerships with: Walter Sisulu University (Eastern Cape) & University of Colorado at Denver

(2010 – present)

University of the Witwatersrand (Gauteng) & Emory University (Atlanta) (2010 – present)

University of Pretoria (Gauteng) & Arcadia University (Pennsylvania) (2011 – present)

CLINICAL ASSOCIATES AIHA support for the Clinical Associates Profession

Clinical Associates Forum Association strengthening for the Professional Association of Clinical Associates in South Africa (PACASA) Digital Integration and mHealth Platforms for training National Examination Workshop (Certification, Standards) Advocacy for integration into health workforce, awareness raising Support for impact research and data collection (graduate tracking, service delivery impact)

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS Establishment of the Clinical Associates National

Exam

Increased awareness of the Clinical Associates profession

Establishment of the Professional Association of Clinical Associates in South Africa (PACASA)

Placement of physician assistant volunteers (VHC) to mentor faculty and assist in teaching

Digital Integration of Clinical Associate Studies (DICAS) at Wits

Data collection on HIV/AIDS-related service delivery provided by Clinical Associates

Collaboration with governmental, advocacy, health stakeholders

CLINICAL ASSOCIATES

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 TOTAL0

100

200

300

400

500

600

23

93130

149121

516

Total Graduates By Year

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Gov-ern-ment Hospi-tals; 424

Mili-tary

Hospi-tals; 52

NGOs; 25Private; 1

Left the Profession; 14

Where Clinical Associates who graduated in 2010-2014 are currently working:

FUTURE CLINICAL ASSOCIATES

3rd year 2nd year 1st year0

50

100

150

200

250

37 36 4050

63 60

75 74

95

162173

195

WSUWitsUPTotal

Clinical Associate Student Enrollment by University and Year (through 2015 intake)

CONCLUSIONS & NEXT STEPS AIHA has more than 23 years of experience helping countries develop locally-driven, locally-owned, and locally-sustainable health system capacity, including a decade of experience in South Africa We look forward to continuing to work together with NDOH, provincial DOH, HPCSA, CDC, universities and other stakeholders to ensure the sustainable success of the Clinical Associates programs and profession We hope this is the first of many conversations about how we can effectively collaborate to ensure that Clinical Associates support South Africa’s goal of healthcare for all and an AIDS-free generation