PITTSBURGH, KS | by Kate Kelley | July 19, 2019
Original article can be found at: https://www.koamnewsnow.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. – According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 75% of the nearly 2,000 rural counties in the U.S. suffer from a shortage in primary care health professionals.
To combat that number, HRSA awarded $20 million in grant funding to help health centers struggling with a doctor shortage.
One of those recipients is right here in Pittsburg…
“More physicians in Southeast Kansas means improved health and quality of life…”
Nancy Rios, Deputy Regional Administrator of the Health Resources Administration tells a full room of medical professionals and proud patients at the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), hoping to see more doctors where they’re needed most, through a rural residency program.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for Southeast Kansas, and to be able to help us and all the families around here, I think it will benefit us greatly,” said Teresa Nance, who regularly visits CHC/SEK.
Nance brings her 6-year-old granddaughter to CHC/SEK, the largest federally qualified health center in Kansas, and she’s a fan too.
“I like the doctor who I’m with because she has lots of things like coloring, bracelets, and things,” said Graciella Medina.
Officials hope HRSA’s $750,000 grant will help CHC/SEK better serve patients like Medina, through a partnership with the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Physicians will train there for a year before coming to Southeast Kansas to complete their training after two more years at CHC/SEK.
“We’re able to provide some really excellent care through the community health center, but we don’t have enough providers, we don’t have enough physicians, and so it can sometimes be a long wait or difficult to get in…The thing that we’re really excited about is creating more excellent physicians so that people are able to get their needs met, not just well but also right when they need to be met as well, without delay,” sad Bethany Enoch, a Family Physician at CHC/SEK, who will be training the residents.
The hope is that the program will attract doctors committed to serving communities like this one, helping patients in rural areas.
“The sooner that we can start working with people, the more likely they are to be able to return to the area and the longer we can keep them in our setting, then they recognize what a great place it is to practice,” explained Enoch.
“I love hearing the announcement and I love seeing my doctor,” said Medina.
“It puts my mind at ease, to know that we’re gonna have such exceptional doctors,” expressed Nance.
At full capacity the residency program will support 12 residents, graduating four per year.
Initially, it will train two physicians per year.
27 grants were distributed to medical centers across 21 states for rural residency planning and development programs.
Share this Post
