MMA Physician Forum: Minnesota's Rural Health Care Workforce

Format: Live webinar

This activity is planned, hosted, and accredited by the Minnesota Medical Association in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Medical School. For accreditation and credit information, along with registration information, please visit https://www.mnmed.org/education-and-events/Physician-Forums or email [email protected].

Description

Rural inequities in health are well-documented and persistent. One contributing factor to poorer health outcomes for rural residents is access to health care. Rural health work force shortages are a challenge for ensuring access to care and is a major topic for policy makers, educators, and health systems in Minnesota and beyond. 

The goal of this session is to provide an overview of the rural health care work force and strategies that are being used to increase health care workers practicing in rural areas. Factors associated with health care workers decisions to stay or leave rural areas will be discussed. This will be followed by a review of lessons and outcomes of the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP), a 9-month rural longitudinal education experience for third year medical students, as well as a review of emerging findings from ongoing research about improving recruitment and retention of health care workers in rural areas.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program the attendee will be able to:

1. Define the factors that impact a health care professional’s choice to practice in a rural
location
2. Describe the impact of a rurally focused education program for medical students on
future practice location
3. Discuss the the health care workforce needs across the spectrum of health care
4. Identify modifiable factors to enhance the rural health care workforce

Moderator: 

Andrew Olson, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
Director of Hospital Medicine
Director of Medical Education Research and Innovation, MEOC
University of Minnesota Medical School

Speakers:

 
1. Why do they stay and why do they go? Factors associated with health care
professionals’ choice to practice in rural Minnesota
Teri Fritsma, PhD
Minnesota Department of Health

2. Impact of educational programming on future rural practice - lessons and outcomes from
the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP)
Kirby Clark, MD
Director, Rural and Metropolitan Physician Associate Programs
University of Minnesota Medical School


3. Title TBD
Zora Radosevich
Director, Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Minnesota Department of Health

4. Question and Answer

Registration for this Forum is being handled by the Minnesota Medical Association.

Registration Information Available Here

Questions regarding registration should be directed to the Minnesota Medical Association at [email protected].

This activity is planned, hosted and accredited by the Minnesota Medical Association in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Medical School. Disclosure collection and conflict of interest review and mitigation is being handled by the Minnesota Medical Association. Required information will be shared by the Minnesota Medical Association. For more information, please visit https://www.mnmed.org/education-and-events/Physician-Forums  or contact the Minnesota Medical Association at [email protected].

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships