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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Recruitment and retention of health professionals

COVID-19 and the Rural Health Workforce: Recommendations to Improve Health in Illinois
Provides an overview of the healthcare workforce in rural Illinois and describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen the rural health workforce in the state, improve service delivery, and enhance access to specialty care via telehealth services.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy
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Who Will Answer the Call? An Abstract of Challenges Facing Michigan's Rural EMS Agencies
Provides an overview of challenges experienced by Michigan's rural emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, such as reimbursement, access to care, recruitment and retention, workforce shortages and training, and more.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Subcommittee of the EMS Coordinating Committee
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Relationship Between Population Density and Scope of Practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Arizona
Study surveyed 230 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) in Arizona to compare scope of practice and population density as well as scope of practice and job satisfaction. Discusses regulations and barriers in scope of practice for CRNAs and other healthcare professionals nationally in the context of recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Michael A. MacKinnon
Citation: AANA Journal, 89(4), 325-333
Date: 08/2021
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Nebraska J1 Visa Waiver Program 2001-2020
Describes J-1 visa waiver applications that the state of Nebraska has sponsored since 2001. Provides 2001-2020 data on provider service obligation fulfillment and retention. Includes J-1 visa approvals by county, specialty, and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan setting.
Author(s): Thomas Rauner, Anna Headlee
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
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Arizona's Physician Shortage: Monitoring Rural Physician Retention and Relocation
Brief discussing rural physician shortage issues in Arizona, offering national-level standards for physician age, education, and structural factors impacting retention. Offers recommendations related to physician surveys to monitor shortages and workforce needs in the state.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Recommendations on Strengthening Mental Health Care in Rural Minnesota
Presents policy and practice recommendations from Minnesota's Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) Rural Mental Health Workgroup to improve access to mental healthcare for rural communities. Discusses challenges in accessing mental healthcare services in rural Minnesota.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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National Health Service Corps: Program Directs Funding to Areas with Greatest Provider Shortages
Provides an overview of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs. Examines data for fiscal year 2020 on the number of NHSC providers and where they served, the number and characteristics of applicants that did not receive funding, the number of NHSC sites with vacancies, and information about the effectiveness of NHSC programs at alleviating provider shortages.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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A Dire Shortage and Getting Worse: Solving the Crisis in the Health Care Workforce
Video of a May 20, 2021 U.S. Senate hearing with testimony from representatives of the Association of American Medical Colleges, the National Medical Association, Albany (Georgia) Area Primary Health Care, and the University of New England. Examines lack of access to high-quality care in rural and underserved areas, and the importance of training students likely to practice in rural areas.
Additional links: David J. Skorton Statement, James D. Herbert Statement, Leon McDougle Statement, Shelley Spires Statement
Author(s): David J. Skorton, Leon McDougle, Shelley Spires, James D. Herbert
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Iowa Nursing Demand Survey Report
Summarizes the results of a survey conducted between February and September 2020 on the demand of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced registered nurse practitioners in Iowa. Discusses anticipated changes to demand and potential shortages, as well as barriers to recruitment and retention. Presents data by employer type, urban or rural location, and size.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa Board of Nursing, Iowa Center for Nursing Workforce
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The Clinical Laboratory Workforce: Understanding the Challenges to Meeting Current and Future Needs
Explores workforce needs of the U.S. laboratory medicine field, including recruitment and retention, expanding the visibility of clinical laboratory careers, and promoting diversity and inclusion. Summarizes a literature review and data analysis based on interviews with informants in clinical laboratory education and professional programs. Discusses rural-specific barriers to recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Edna C. Garcia, Grace A. Guenther, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: American Society for Clinical Pathology, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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