A practice-based rural health fellowship: an innovative approach to support for rural care

Efforts to support recruitment and retention of rural providers have sometimes included local postgraduate training. An innovative approach that includes training fellows entirely in a rural area with most of the costs supported locally was found to be cost-effective and to produce the expected positive effects. Training goals and objectives were accomplished in the areas of rural health and advanced maternity care, and the community gained an experienced provider as well as a new continuing education activity. This model may be applicable to many rural sites that have adequate clinical volume, experienced and motivated local faculty, and connection to a supportive regional medical center.