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

And How Long Will You Be Staying, Doctor?
Relates the personal experiences of the author, a physician practicing in rural New Mexico, on the overarching theme of high provider turnover in rural communities. Linked audio interview with the author highlights the challenges facing patients and physicians in rural areas of the U.S. Requires free account registration for full access.
Additional links: Audio Interview with the Author
Author(s): Heather Kovich
Citation: New England Journal of Medicine, 376(14), 1307-1309
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
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Veterans Health Administration: Actions Needed to Better Recruit and Retain Clinical and Administrative Staff
Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Health and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs detailing the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) challenges in attracting, hiring, and retaining top healthcare talent, including in rural locations. Also discusses the VHA's capacity to perform key human resources functions and makes recommendations for future improvements.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Alaska Health Workforce Coalition 2017-2021 Action Agenda
Outlines priorities and provides guidance on system and capacity building initiatives to address Alaska's healthcare workforce needs. Includes discussion on rural recruitment programs, such as loan repayment and incentives, and a rural professional recruiting network.
Date: 2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce, University of Alaska Statewide Workforce Programs
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New Partner Recruitment to Rural Versus Urban Ob-Gyn Practices: A Survey of Practicing Ob-Gyns
Discusses the results of a survey of obstetrics and gynecology practices in rural and urban areas located in 5 Northwestern states to examine their recruitment efforts. Information and data about their background, practice setting, partner recruitment, and retention was collected and analyzed, with comparisons noted between rural, suburban, and urban providers.
Author(s): Michael F. Fialkow, Carrie M. Snead, Jay Schulkin
Citation: Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology, 2017(4)
Date: 2017
Type: Document
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The Imperative for Strategic Workforce Planning And Development: Challenges and Opportunities
Discusses workforce planning and development efforts in rural hospitals, as well as other key topics that present challenges and opportunities in workforce recruitment and retention, such as diversity, the shortage of behavioral health professionals, technology, and more. Covers three rural specific examples that expand access to healthcare services through telehealth services and a rural residency matching incentive programs.
Date: 2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Innovations in Rural Health System Development: Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Health Care Workforce
Illustrates examples of rural-focused medical education programs to support an adequate supply of physicians in rural Maine. Also, discusses behavioral and oral health workforce development, and promising programs utilizing other types of healthcare workers such as community paramedics and community health workers (CHWs) to increase the availability and accessibility of healthcare in rural Maine and in other rural regions of the U.S.
Author(s): Amanda Burgess, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Maine Health Access Foundation, Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Indian Health Service Hospitals: Longstanding Challenges Warrant Focused Attention to Support Quality Care
Study completed in response to concerns over inadequate quality of care being provided in Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals. Included in the report are findings from a series of leadership and staff interviews, questionnaires, and document reviews. Recommendations for improving quality of care are made to IHS and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Additional recommendations for improving quality through oversight measures can be found in the companion report: Indian Health Service Hospitals: More Monitoring Needed to Ensure Quality Care Addresses healthcare access difficulties, health workforce challenges, and more.
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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National Health Service Corps - An Extended Analysis: Final Report
Examines the distribution and retention of National Health Service Corps providers with a focus on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Indian Health Service (IHS) sites. Compares long and short-term retention of NHSC and non-NHSC providers for 2000-2015 and NHSC participant location after completing their service requirements. Includes data breakdowns by type of HPSA (primary care, dental health, mental health), type of provider, race/ethnicity, and gender.
Author(s): Sebastian Negrusa, Paul Hogan, Projesh Ghosh, Lachlan Watkins
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Using Area Health Education Centers to Promote Interest in Rural Practice
Examines the relationship of third-year medical students participating in AHEC-sponsored family medicine clerkships in a rural primary care setting and their interest in working in rural areas after graduation. Compares the same relationship between third-year medical students participating in non-AHEC-sponsored family medicine clerkships.
Author(s): Jennifer Taylor, Sarah Goletz
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 16(3), 3934
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
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A Work in Progress: Building Wisconsin's Future Physician Workforce
Provides updates to the previous 2011 report, 100 New Physicians a Year: An Imperative for Wisconsin, which focused on the need for recruitment and retention of physicians. Provides projections for future workforce needs. Includes workforce data and statistics by county. See WCMEW's 2018 Report for a forecast of primary care physicians and interviews with Wisconsin workforce partners.
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce
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