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Recruitment and Retention for Rural Health Facilities – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Recruitment and Retention for Rural Health Facilities.

National Health Service Corps Site Reference Guide
Provides clarification for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites regarding eligibility requirements, qualification factors, compliance, roles and responsibilities, and other factors for becoming an NHSC approved site. Acts as a supplemental resource to the information provided in the online NHSC Site Application.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Rural Physician Recruitment and Staffing Survey Results
White paper examining the results of an October 2021 survey of 1,311 physicians,169 administrators, and 158 advanced practice providers. Describes characteristics of respondents with breakdowns by urban, suburban, or rural location. Explores top reasons for choosing a rural practice location, incentives with the greatest influence, and reasons for declining offers.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Jackson Physician Search
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The National Health Service Corps
Provides an overview of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program, including the federal scholarship and loan repayment components, and explains how the program affects rural recruitment and retention. Highlights changes in FY2018 focusing on opioid and substance use disorder treatment providers, as well as the provision of funding to expand the number of scholarship and loan repayment awards through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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It Takes a Village: Rural Recruitment and Retention
Provides an overview of the challenges of recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural areas. Features healthcare facilities in North Dakota and Kansas, describing how they work with their communities to attract healthcare providers.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Health Workforce Strategic Plan
Provides a framework for health workforce improvements and addresses long-standing barriers to strengthening the health workforce. Focuses on recruiting and training health professionals from underserved communities to build a diverse, representative health workforce; ensuring equitable distribution of the workforce across geographic areas and health professions; strengthening the ability of the workforce to deliver high-quality care, including through strengthening cultural and linguistic competency of professionals; and using evidence and data to make better decisions about health workforce education and training investments. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Comments from Federal National Advisory Committees
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Lessons Learned from the Cohort Analysis of Rural Health Programs: Workforce Recruitment and Retention
Describes successful approaches to recruiting and retaining staff for community health projects implemented by Federal Office of Rural Health Policy grantees. Discusses the role of network partners, challenges and barriers, and factors that support successful recruitment and retention.
Additional links: Webinar Overview
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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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
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Society for Clinical Pathology, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Profiles of Rural Medical Educators: Conversations with our Nation's Experts on Reversing Rural Physician Shortages
E-book featuring conversations with 16 prominent educators, offering insights on training and retaining medical doctors in rural communities. Includes perspectives of current and past National Rural Health Association members and national experts on reversing rural physician shortages and ways in which to deal with inadequate funding and resources. Intended for educators, politicians, physicians, administrators, medical students, funders, and rural communities seeking to recruit and retain excellent doctors.
Author(s): Rural Medical Educator Group
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Addressing Rural Health Disparities in a Pandemic
Public Health Review podcast in which 3 speakers discuss the impact of COVID-19 on rural health infrastructure and workforce. Describes how to improve conditions in rural communities, increase access to quality healthcare, and implement innovative strategies for health workforce recruitment and retention.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Last Updated: 3/12/2024