Medical Education to Improve Rural Population Health: A Chain of Evidence From Alabama

Wheat, John R.; Coleman, Veronica L.; Murphy, Shannon; Turberville, Caleb M.; Leeper, James D.

doi:10.1111/jrh.12113

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 39 publications

(60 reference statements)

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“…This suggestion is in line with another study from Alabama that found counties with more students in medical school had more primary care physicians and longer life expectancy. 32 As counties involve more students in these pipelines, we could expect them also to seek ways to better attract these pipeline students into local practice. These efforts might be internal to the community, such as local scholarships, shadowing opportunities, social recognition, and civic involvement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pipeline Programs Can Support Reforms in Medical Education: A Cohort Study of Alabama's Rural Health Leaders Pipeline to Engage Community Leaders

Wheat

Leeper

2020

The Journal of Rural Health

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Purpose:To demonstrate for county leaders the utility of rural pipelines to gain physicians and produce health professionals.Methods: This cohort study, 1993-2018, aggregated 1,051 students in the Rural Health Leaders Pipeline to their home counties (N = 67) to study the relationship between county participation in pipeline programs and outcomes of family physicians gained and health professionals produced. Additional county demographics were included. We conducted descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable linear regression analyses controlling for poverty, race, and rurality. Findings: All 67 Alabama counties participated with means of 9.6 Rural Health Scholars, 2.7 Rural Minority Health Scholars, 3.4 Rural Medical Scholars, 67% rural population, 29.7% Black population, and 21.5% under poverty. Best regression model for gaining family physicians included Rural Medical Scholars involved (b = 0.24, P < .001) with R 2 0.30, indicating a county gained 1 family physician for 4 students. Best model for health professionals included Rural Health Scholars involved (b = 0.20, P < .001) with R 2 0.31, indicating production of 1 health professional for 5 students. Best model for any professional included Rural Health Scholars involved (b = 0.23, P < .001) with R 2 0.35, indicating 1 professional produced for 4 students.Conclusions: Rural pipeline programs can be useful tools in medical education reform to benefit counties with the gain of family physicians and production of health professionals. Local public officials could use these findings, eg, 1 family physician gained for every 4 students a county involved in the pipeline, to advocate that health professional education employ such pipelines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pipeline Programs Can Support Reforms in Medical Education: A Cohort Study of Alabama's Rural Health Leaders Pipeline to Engage Community Leaders

Wheat

Leeper

2020

The Journal of Rural Health

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“…This map analysis was affected by small numbers of RMS. Subsequent unpublished data on RMS practice location support the pattern of infrequent location in the Black Belt, and published ecological data from a different dataset show a disparity in primary care workforce in this region …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Subsequent unpublished data on RMS practice location support the pattern of infrequent location in the Black Belt, and published ecological data from a different dataset show a disparity in primary care workforce in this region. 39 As effective as the RMSP is, it is not sufficient to supply physicians needed for Alabama's rural Black Belt. This population of largely poor southern blacks is not limited to Alabama and is not trivial-it is one of the "eight Americas," one that experiences decreased access to health care compared to other populations.…”

Section: Addressing Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Educating Physicians for Rural America: Validating Successes and Identifying Remaining Challenges With the Rural Medical Scholars Program

Wheat

Leeper

Murphy

et al. 2017

The Journal of Rural Health

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The RMS Program, contrasted to other local programs of medical education, was effective in producing rural physicians. These results were comparable to benchmark programs in the Northeast and Midwest USA on which the RMS Program was modeled, justifying the assumption that model programs can be replicated in different regions. However, this positive effect was not shared by a disparate rural minority population, suggesting that models for rural medical education must be adjusted to meet the challenge of such communities for physicians.

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“…The scarcity of healthcare professionals and resources necessitates innovative care strategies, underscoring the critical role of advanced practice nurses (APNs). These nurses, with specialized skills in assessment, diagnosis, and disease management, are pivotal in improving healthcare outcomes in rural settings [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applying Advanced Practice Nurses in Rural Japan: A Mixed-Methods Perspective

Ohta,

Maejima,

Sano

2024

Cureus

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IntroductionRural hospitals, particularly those in geographically isolated regions like Shimane Prefecture, Japan, face significant healthcare delivery challenges. These include limited resources, an aging population, and a scarcity of healthcare professionals. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) have emerged as pivotal in addressing these gaps, offering specialized patient assessment, diagnosis, and management skills. This study aimed to evaluate the demand for APNs in rural community hospitals, focusing on the specific educational needs and clinical competencies required to improve healthcare outcomes in these settings. MethodEmploying a mixed-methods approach, this research combined qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews with quantitative data analysis of electronic health records (EHRs) at Unnan City Hospital. This sequential exploratory design aimed to capture comprehensive educational needs and outcomes, integrating the depth of qualitative data with the breadth of quantitative evidence to tailor a curriculum for APNs in rural healthcare contexts. ResultsThe study revealed a critical demand for APNs skilled in managing common medical issues in rural settings, such as infections, circulatory failures, and respiratory problems. Stakeholder interviews highlighted the necessity for a curriculum that enhances clinical competencies and emphasizes soft skills like communication and leadership. An analysis of EHRs identified 21 specific diseases across six categories, underlining the importance of targeted education on these prevalent conditions. ConclusionThe findings underscore the urgent need for specialized education programs for APNs in rural hospitals to address these communities' unique healthcare challenges. Developing a curriculum that focuses on clinical and soft skills essential for rural healthcare delivery can significantly enhance the quality of care. This study advocates for implementing such tailored educational programs to empower APNs, thereby contributing to healthcare equity and improving patient outcomes in rural settings.

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Medical Education to Improve Rural Population Health: A Chain of Evidence From Alabama

Cited by 6 publications

References 39 publications

Pipeline Programs Can Support Reforms in Medical Education: A Cohort Study of Alabama's Rural Health Leaders Pipeline to Engage Community Leaders

Pipeline Programs Can Support Reforms in Medical Education: A Cohort Study of Alabama's Rural Health Leaders Pipeline to Engage Community Leaders

Educating Physicians for Rural America: Validating Successes and Identifying Remaining Challenges With the Rural Medical Scholars Program

Applying Advanced Practice Nurses in Rural Japan: A Mixed-Methods Perspective

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