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Rural Health Information Hub

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

Indian Health Service Programs – A Retention Analysis: Final Report
Examines retention of Indian Health Service Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program participants after their service, whether it varies by provider type, facility characteristics, and more. Compares retention for IHS programs to National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program retention.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, The Lewin Group, Inc.
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Innovations in Rural Health System Development: Federally Qualified Health Center Initiatives
Reports on Maine's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Discusses strategies for workforce recruitment and retention, serving high-need patient populations, addressing critical community needs, and providing services that address the social determinants of health. Provides various examples of programs from across the state.
Author(s): Sara Kahn-Troster, Amanda Burgess, Andrew Coburn
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Catherine Cutler Institute, Maine Health Access Foundation
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Mobility of US Rural Primary Care Physicians During 2000-2014
Presents results from a study aimed at understanding which rural physicians are most likely to move, and which factors most likely contribute to that decision. Uses data from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile between 2000 and 2014, and shows the likelihood of mobility based on gender, age, birthplace, long work commute, county unemployment rate, Rural-Urban Continuum Code (RUCC), and numerous other indicators.
Author(s): Matthew R. McGrail, Peter M. Wingrove, Stephen M. Petterson, Andrew W. Bazemore
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 15(4), 322-328
Date: 07/2017
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Determinants of the 5-Year Retention and Rural Location of Family Physicians: Results from the Iowa Family Medicine Training Network
Analysis of data from 8 residency programs associated with the Carver College of Medicine. Includes statistics with breakdowns by decade of graduation, place of residency, 5-year retention rate, and rural location.
Author(s): Gregory Nelson, Thomas S. Gruca
Citation: Family Medicine, 49(6), 473-476
Date: 06/2017
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Integrating Community Health Workers into Complex Care Teams: Key Considerations
Examines effective strategies for integrating community health workers (CHWs) into complex care teams. Discusses factors to consider, such as recruiting and hiring, training and career progression, team integration, support and retention, and more. Includes a brief description of characteristics that are particularly important for CHWs working in rural areas.
Author(s): Jim Lloyd, Caitlin Thomas-Henkel
Date: 05/2017
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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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
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Assessment of Factors for Recruiting and Retaining Medical Students to Rural Communities Using the Community Apgar Questionnaire
Describes factors influencing family physician recruitment in rural settings from a survey of 282 third- and fourth-year medical students. Includes data on students intending to practice in rural versus non-rural areas. Utilizes the Community Apgar Questionnaire, which evaluates community factors influencing physician recruitment including geography, economics, facility and community support, scope of practice, and more.
Author(s): Alex J. Reed, David Schmitz, Edward Baker, James Girvan, Theodore McDonald
Citation: Family Medicine 49(2), 132-136
Date: 02/2017
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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
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
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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
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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