Location decisions of National Health Service Corps physicians

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Rural Health
• Physician Workforce Studies

Background:

• The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) aims to improve health care in underserved areas.
• Understanding physician practice location decisions is crucial for addressing rural health disparities.
• Physician retention in rural areas remains a significant challenge for healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the practice location intentions of NHSC physicians after fulfilling their service obligations.
• To identify factors influencing NHSC physicians' decisions to practice in rural versus urban settings.
• To explore the correlation between practice type (primary care vs. specialty) and rural practice preference.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 100 NHSC physicians across 10 east coast states.
• A high response rate of 94% was achieved, ensuring robust data.
• Data analysis focused on comparing physician intentions and the factors influencing their location choices.

Main Results:

• 56% of surveyed NHSC physicians intend to practice in a rural area after their service commitment.
• 15% of physicians remain undecided about their post-service practice location.
• Physicians opting for rural practice placed higher value on personal and community factors compared to professional considerations.
• A greater likelihood of rural practice intention was observed among physicians in primary care.

Conclusions:

• NHSC physicians show a significant inclination towards rural practice, driven by non-professional factors.
• Personal and community aspects are key determinants for physicians choosing rural practice settings.
• Primary care physicians represent a crucial group for rural practice recruitment and retention efforts.