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A comprehensive medical education program response to rural primary care needs
Michael Glasser1, Matthew Hunsaker, Kimberly Sweet
1National Center for Rural Health Professions, University of Illinois, Rockford, Illinois 61107, USA. michaelg@uic.edu
Academic Medicine : Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges
|September 30, 2008
Summary
The Rural Medical Education (RMED) Program successfully recruits and trains physicians for rural practice, significantly reducing health disparities. Its comprehensive approach, from recruitment to a rural preceptorship, yields favorable outcomes for underserved communities.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Rural Health
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Addressing critical medical workforce shortages in rural areas.
- Mitigating significant health disparities experienced by rural populations.
- The need for specialized training programs to support rural healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Rural Medical Education (RMED) Program's characteristics and outcomes.
- To assess the program's effectiveness in recruiting and retaining physicians for rural practice.
- To determine the program's impact on reducing rural health disparities.
Main Methods:
- Implementing a targeted recruitment strategy for rural candidates.
- Providing a rural-focused undergraduate medical curriculum.
- Mandating a 16-week rural preceptorship in the fourth year.
- Tracking student matriculation, graduation, and practice location.
Main Results:
- 216 students matriculated since 1993 with a 75% acceptance rate.
- Graduates show favorable United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Part 1 scores, comparable to non-RMED students.
- 76% of graduates entered primary care residencies, with 64.4% practicing in rural communities.
Conclusions:
- The RMED Program serves as an effective model for rural medical education, encompassing recruitment, curriculum, and retention.
- The program demonstrates success in placing physicians in rural primary care settings.
- Future efforts should focus on recruiting rural minority students and expanding program capacity.
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