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

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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The Texas Mental Health Workforce: Continuing Challenges and Sensible Strategies
Policy brief featuring a report on the mental healthcare workforce in Texas, including a comparison of rural and urban counties. Discusses barriers to workforce expansion and strategies for drawing more mental health providers to the state.
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
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Graduates of Rural-Centric Family Medicine Residencies: Determinants of Rural and Urban Practice
Reports on a study analyzing the characteristics, experiences, and attitudes of graduates from rural-centric family medicine residencies regarding influences on their selection of practice location.
Author(s): Davis G. Patterson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Eric H. Larson
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Working in Rural Health
A video describing the benefits of working as a healthcare provider in a rural location, including testimonials from providers working in rural Washington. Length: 4:25
Date: 07/2016
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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