Georgia PA Program Addresses Rural Healthcare Shortage Through Multistate Collaboration

The United States is facing a shortage of primary care providers. This shortage is exacerbated in rural areas, which account for over 66 percent of the nation’s Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Rural areas also face unique challenges in recruiting and retaining providers for long-term practice. Actionable steps to improve access to care are at the forefront of these communities' minds.

We recently connected with one of our clinical educational partners, Morehouse School of Medicine’s (MSM) Physician Assistant (PA) program. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, their program draws upon innovative methods to prepare PA students to “meet the primary health care needs of the urban and rural underserved populations in Georgia and the nation.”

Rural Training Initiatives

MSM’s PA program offers two specialized Rural Healthcare Tracks (RHCTs) for students who want to practice in primary care in rural communities after graduation. The RHCTs are offered through the Georgia Rural Health Outreach Workforce (GROW) Training Program, which focuses on increasing primary care in rural settings, and the MAPS program, which focuses on integrated primary and behavioral health care. Both GROW and MAPS are funded through HRSA grants. Half of the 40-student PA cohort is part of an RHCT.

One of the most creative aspects of the RHCTs involves the program’s approach to experiential training. MSM has strong partnerships with health systems and hospitals in rural Georgia and rural areas in three other states: Kentucky, Maine, and Tennessee. These partners are “hubs” for PA students, who relocate either in- or out-of-state to live and train. The hubs provide robust clinical experiences where students spend two to three different rotations within the organization instead of just one. Students in their final year may spend up to three months training at a single hub, allowing them to develop a deep understanding of and involvement in their local community.

Costs associated with long-distance rotations can be burdensome for students. However, PA students receive stipends for each rural rotation they complete and are reimbursed for travel and housing accommodations. With travel expenses taken care of, students can focus on their learning without missing out on these impactful experiences.

By welcoming MSM PA students to their communities, partners hope they return to their areas to work as primary care providers after graduation. Their hope is not unfounded: research suggests that providers who train in rural areas with high needs are more likely to practice in those settings after graduation. Earlier this year, a graduate of the MSM PA program accepted a job at Northern Light Health in Maine, the system where she completed her clinical training. MSM PA and their partners look forward to celebrating more of these success stories in the future.

Recruitment and Pipeline Development

MSM’s PA program has a specific and comprehensive recruitment plan. Some activities even begin before the point of admission. To build a pipeline of future PAs, the program engages with middle and high school students in the states where hubs are located by holding events and projects over the summer. MSM PA uses these opportunities to inform students about who they are and how they can apply to the degree program when they are older.

Additionally, MSM PA staff prioritize outreach to potential applicants from rural and/or medically underserved areas and National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholars. Similarly to providers who received rural training, these individuals are more likely to practice in these settings when they become licensed.

Takeaways

Dr. Lynwood McAllister, Administrative Assistant Clinical Director, elaborated on why he thinks the MSM PA program has found great success in equipping students to provide high-quality primary care in underserved areas. The overarching theme? “Everything is about relationships.” 

Three Tips to Start Working Collaboratively Across County and State Lines

Tip #1: Identify partner organizations that align with your mission and have experience working with other states and rural communities so that you can leverage their expertise.

#2: Invest in longer-term placements to foster trust and deep, non-transactional connections with partners. Dr. McAllister noted an auxiliary benefit of the relationships: "That yields the opportunity for our students to be involved in other specialties and elective opportunities.”

#3: Keep communication open with potential sites and organizations, even if they cannot take on a student. Dr. McAlister expressed, “You can’t get discouraged when you hear a no. It’s a no right now, but it might not be a no next year.”

About Michigan Health Council

Michigan Health Council (MHC) is a solutions-oriented nonprofit organization on a mission to ensure the future of the healthcare workforce. Learn more at mhc.org.