Characteristics and Distribution of Graduate Medical Education Training Sites: Are We Missing Opportunities to Meet U.S. Health Workforce Needs?

Abstract

Relatively little training occurs in rural or community-based settings. Expanding training opportunities in these low-access areas could improve physician supply there.

Health care eligibility and availability and health care reform: Are we addressing rural women’s barriers to accessing care?

“…Currently, healthcare providers are less likely to be recruited or retained in rural settings. 6,35,36 Specifically, few training programs for medical providers take place in rural settings, 37 early-career providers may be dissuaded from practicing in settings where they do not wish to raise a family, 6,36,38 and rural providers may be more likely to leave their practices due to dissatisfaction with their careers. 39 These challenges suggest that provider recruitment and retention efforts must extend beyond the healthcare environment through community-integrated efforts to support a rural healthcare workforce.…”

Healthcare-seeking behaviors among Midwest farmers

“…Members of rural communities face barriers to accessing quality healthcare which include lack of clinicians experienced in rural medicine, availability of services, and affordability of services (32). Rural areas have a lack of knowledgeable clinicians with experience working in rural or community-based settings and have fewer specialists compared to urban areas (32,33). This may occur because most physician training is conducted in private hospitals, not in community-based clinics, and not typically in rural settings (32,33).…”

“…Rural areas have a lack of knowledgeable clinicians with experience working in rural or community-based settings and have fewer specialists compared to urban areas (32,33). This may occur because most physician training is conducted in private hospitals, not in community-based clinics, and not typically in rural settings (32,33). In November 2016, over 50% of the primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) were in rural areas (34).…”

“…In addition to unaffordable health insurance, the rural environment in which farmers live and work leads to barriers in accessing healthcare. Rural areas lack clinicians with training in rural or community-based settings, and have fewer specialists compared to urban areas (32)(33)(34).…”

“…Although studies indicate that health insurance is a major concern and/or source of stress among farmers 41 (46). It has been identified that providers lack knowledge about farm work, so this is something that will need to be overcome in the context of prevention healthcare services (33,36). Based on factors such as your health insurance's premiums, deductibles, and benefits, would you consider your health insurance: The following information will be used for reimbursement purposes only and will be stripped from the data when analyzed.…”