Rural Project Examples: Physician assistants
Other Project Examples

Updated/reviewed March 2019
- Need: An ongoing shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas of South Dakota
- Intervention: A 4-week summer program placing health professions students in rural communities.
- Results: Of graduating participants, 70% practice in South Dakota with 30% practicing in rural communities with populations fewer than 10,000, or veteran facilities.

Updated/reviewed April 2018
- Need: To address the increasing need for healthcare providers in the rural and underserved areas of Tennessee.
- Intervention: The Tennessee Rural Partnership was created to assist in the recruitment, placement, and retention of physicians and healthcare professionals.
- Results: As of 2016, more than 120 primary care providers have been placed in 70 rural Tennessee communities. In 2018, the entity's name changed to "Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development."
Avera LIGHT
Updated/reviewed March 2018
Updated/reviewed March 2018
- Need: Assistance for Midwest rural physicians who are experiencing burnout due to heavy workload, lack of staff, limited resources, and stress related to the use of electronic medical records.
- Intervention: Through a variety of methods, Avera LIGHT comes alongside of providers to prevent and treat physician burnout and support their physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
- Results: Physicians who have been on the brink of quitting because of burnout have stayed on staff as a direct result of executive coaching through Avera LIGHT. The program has helped to build a culture of wellness where providers are encouraged to be proactive in reaching out for help.
For examples from other sources, see: