In the South Central AHEC region, modern electronic technology is used to offer educational opportunities for residents in remote communities.
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South Central AHEC students learn to use electronic databases to search for medical documents at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Students in the communities outside Bexar County often find it difficult to commute to San Antonio for the advanced education required for most health careers. South Central AHEC is working to bridge this educational gap through activities such as the following.


Hill Country Education Project

South Central AHEC collaborates with Hill Country Memorial Hospital, the City of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg Independent School District, and Austin Community College to provide a telecommunications-based LVN education program. South Central AHEC provides the telecommunications equipment and, with Austin Community College, maintains telecommunications links between San Antonio, Fredericksburg, and Austin. In recent years, the site has hosted a variety of programming, including:
  • Educational courses for LVN and nursing assistant students.
  • Educational courses for medication aide, certified nurses aide, and emergency medical technology students.
  • Prerequisite college courses in pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, medical ethics, medical terminology, psychology, statistical methods, and British literature for pre-health professions students.
  • Continuing education for local health professionals.
  • Programming for community members.

Electronic Supervision and Web-Based Instruction

The South Central AHEC has recently funded several Internet-based programs:
  • Occupational Therapy faculty and students used a desktop computer videoconferencing unit for remote supervision, consultation, and continuing education.
  • The Pharmacy program developed two Web-based courses providing six hours of continuing education for supervisors of pharmacy students.
  • Two courses in Respiratory Care were developed for the B.S. in Respiratory Care degree, one offered as web-based instruction, the other in the interactive videoconference format.
  • The Dental Education Computer Outreach Network linked clinical training sites with the dental school. Dental clinics used this Internet-based network to access UTHSCSA course manuals and administrative forms required for training dental students, in addition to information on JCAHO accreditation. School districts that participated in AHEC-sponsored dental sealant and fluoride mouthrinse projects also used the network for administrative and related activities.