Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Recruitment and retention of health professionals
Rural Practice Made Attractive: A Scoping Review of Rural Primary Care Physician Recruitment and Retention Incentives
Offers a scoping review on the effectiveness of 17 workforce development programs aiming to retain rural primary care physicians. Discusses the lack of systematically collected retention data and the impact on effective evaluation of these programs.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Katherine Bay, Laura Witte, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026
Date: 01/2026
view details
Offers a scoping review on the effectiveness of 17 workforce development programs aiming to retain rural primary care physicians. Discusses the lack of systematically collected retention data and the impact on effective evaluation of these programs.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Katherine Bay, Laura Witte, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026
Date: 01/2026
view details
Doula Services for Medicaid Beneficiaries in Virginia: Access, Utilization, and Policy Lessons
Discusses barriers and facilitators of access to doula care for Medicaid beneficiaries in Virginia after evaluation of a collection of both qualitative and quantitative data gathered between January 2022 and January 2025. Discusses geographic disparities including concerns for access in rural areas and policies to address access.
Author(s): Desirae Leaphart Mensah, Alison E. Cuellar
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(1)
Date: 01/2026
view details
Discusses barriers and facilitators of access to doula care for Medicaid beneficiaries in Virginia after evaluation of a collection of both qualitative and quantitative data gathered between January 2022 and January 2025. Discusses geographic disparities including concerns for access in rural areas and policies to address access.
Author(s): Desirae Leaphart Mensah, Alison E. Cuellar
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(1)
Date: 01/2026
view details
Evaluating Rural Healthcare Workforce Programs: Applying Modified Whole-of-Person Retention Improvement Framework in VHA Programs
Examines gaps in recruitment and retention programs in addressing workforce shortages in rural areas. Uses the Veterans Health Administration's 2023 Rural Recruitment and Hiring Plan and aims to identify gaps by applying a modified whole-of-person retention improvement framework.
Author(s): Meghan R. Longacre, Linda M. Kinney, Kathleen L. Carluzzo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70115
Date: 01/2026
view details
Examines gaps in recruitment and retention programs in addressing workforce shortages in rural areas. Uses the Veterans Health Administration's 2023 Rural Recruitment and Hiring Plan and aims to identify gaps by applying a modified whole-of-person retention improvement framework.
Author(s): Meghan R. Longacre, Linda M. Kinney, Kathleen L. Carluzzo, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70115
Date: 01/2026
view details
Strengthening Rural Health Care: A Scoping Review of Nurse Recruitment and Retention Strategies
Results of a review identifying recruitment and retention programs for nurses in rural areas, including strategy characteristics and location. Features statistics and a county-level map showing locations of programs and Primary Care Heath Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Laura Witte, Alexander Paterson-Roberts, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S18-S25
Date: 01/2026
view details
Results of a review identifying recruitment and retention programs for nurses in rural areas, including strategy characteristics and location. Features statistics and a county-level map showing locations of programs and Primary Care Heath Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Kelley Arredondo, Laura Witte, Alexander Paterson-Roberts, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S18-S25
Date: 01/2026
view details
Predictors of Inpatient RN Turnover in Rural and Urban VHA Hospitals
A study on the rates and associated factors of registered nursing (RN) workforce turnover in rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. Breaks down data by RN demographic factors, such as age, salary, and experience within the VHA, and hospital factors, such as average age, average base salary, and average number of units worked, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine G. Bay, Chase S. Eck, Melissa K. Knox, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S9-S17
Date: 01/2026
view details
A study on the rates and associated factors of registered nursing (RN) workforce turnover in rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. Breaks down data by RN demographic factors, such as age, salary, and experience within the VHA, and hospital factors, such as average age, average base salary, and average number of units worked, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine G. Bay, Chase S. Eck, Melissa K. Knox, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S9-S17
Date: 01/2026
view details
2025 Idaho Medical Education (UME) Plan
Outlines policy recommendations from the Idaho Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group to address physician shortages across the state. Recommendations discuss existing and new partnerships, moving Idaho residents into and through the physician workforce pipeline, incentives for retention, and funding needs. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Idaho State Board of Education Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group
view details
Outlines policy recommendations from the Idaho Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group to address physician shortages across the state. Recommendations discuss existing and new partnerships, moving Idaho residents into and through the physician workforce pipeline, incentives for retention, and funding needs. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Idaho State Board of Education Undergraduate Medical Education Plan Working Group
view details
2025 West Virginia Health Sciences and Rural Health Report
Review of medical school enrollment, licensing rates, student debt ratios, residency training, and retention rates in West Virginia, with special focus on the Rural Health Initiative Program. Includes dental and pharmacy program profiles, and describes the Medical Student Loan Program and the Health Sciences Service Program, providing financial awards to health professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas of West Virginia.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
view details
Review of medical school enrollment, licensing rates, student debt ratios, residency training, and retention rates in West Virginia, with special focus on the Rural Health Initiative Program. Includes dental and pharmacy program profiles, and describes the Medical Student Loan Program and the Health Sciences Service Program, providing financial awards to health professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas of West Virginia.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
view details
Supporting Rural Primary Care Through Project ECHO: A Brief Case Report
Discusses a collaborative telementoring program developed by the Project ECHO team at Penn State University which focuses on addressing rural primary care clinician burnout. Details program implementation and results among 106 participants across 2 cohorts.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Kraschnewski, Laura L. Felix, Sarah Cichy, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), e267
Date: 11/2025
view details
Discusses a collaborative telementoring program developed by the Project ECHO team at Penn State University which focuses on addressing rural primary care clinician burnout. Details program implementation and results among 106 participants across 2 cohorts.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Kraschnewski, Laura L. Felix, Sarah Cichy, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), e267
Date: 11/2025
view details
The State of Rural Provider Compensation in 2025: Rural Physician & Advanced Practice Provider Compensation Survey Results
Results of a survey of over 4,697 rural providers, conducted in February and March of 2025 to provide insight into rural healthcare organizations and promote evidence-based, informed decisions when considering physician and advanced practice provider compensation. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of provider, specialty area, health system status, and more. Email address required to access report.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Associates
view details
Results of a survey of over 4,697 rural providers, conducted in February and March of 2025 to provide insight into rural healthcare organizations and promote evidence-based, informed decisions when considering physician and advanced practice provider compensation. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of provider, specialty area, health system status, and more. Email address required to access report.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Associates
view details
Creating Rural Physician Training Sites: Not Easy, Not Simple, But Happening With Federal Support
Features insights from Rural Residency Planning and Development grantees in Georgia, Oregon, and Missouri. Focuses on the challenges, successes, and community impact of their new rural residency startup work.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Features insights from Rural Residency Planning and Development grantees in Georgia, Oregon, and Missouri. Focuses on the challenges, successes, and community impact of their new rural residency startup work.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details