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The choice of rural practice: a longitudinal view
Annual Conference on Research in Medical Education. Conference on Research in Medical Education
|January 1, 1977
Summary
Medical schools aim to fix physician shortages by admitting rural students. However, training at urban tertiary facilities overrides hometown influence, hindering rural practice location choices.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Rural Health Policy
- Physician Workforce Distribution
Background:
- Geographic maldistribution of physicians is a significant challenge in the United States.
- Medical schools are exploring admissions policies to address this issue, focusing on rural-oriented students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effectiveness of preferential admissions for rural students in addressing physician maldistribution.
- To investigate the influence of medical training environment on practice location decisions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the impact of admissions policies favoring rural students.
- Examination of the role of tertiary medical facility training in shaping physician career paths.
Main Results:
- Preferential admissions for rural students may not effectively increase rural physician numbers.
- Training at tertiary medical facilities exerts a strong urbanizing and specializing influence.
Conclusions:
- The urbanizing influence of tertiary training can counteract the intended effect of rural-focused admissions.
- Alternative strategies may be needed to encourage physicians to practice in rural areas.