Development of clinical education sites in an area health education system

In 1974 the University of Kentucky was faced with two problems: 1) overburdening of local clinical facilities by students and 2) a large exodus of graduates from the state. The advent of the Area Health Education System offered the opportunity for the clinical education program to develop nontraditional clinical sites across the state. The development and use of these nontraditional sites in predominantly rural areas has become an integral part of the clinical education program. Local facilities are no longer inundated with students. The retention rate of graduates has improved in the seven years of the program from 36 percent to 1972 to 81 percent in 1979.