The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) www.dhs.wisconsin.gov is implementing a new graduate medical education program to serve one of the most underserved areas of the state. “Data tells us that within the next few years, there will be fewer and fewer physicians serving Northwest Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin DHS Secretary Kitty Roades.
Research shows that recruiting medical students with existing or prior ties to the state coupled with residencies in rural and underserved areas significantly increases the odds that the new physicians will return to the same areas to practice.”
A new partnership of several critical access hospitals, a health plan, and a university sponsor will help establish a new family medicine residency program in the St. Croix Valley area. The partners include Amery Hospital & Clinic www.amerymedicalcenter.org, Hudson Hospital & Clinic www.hudsonhospital.org, and Westfields Hospital & Clinic www.westfieldshospital.com. HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research www.hprf.org along with Methodist Hospital www.hospital-data.com will serve as academic partners.
Development of the new rural education program is supported by a state grant. It is one of ten efforts currently underway across the state to increase the number of physicians practicing in rural and underserved areas targeting five specialties, family medicine, general internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry.