Efforts made by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to recruit physicians to underserved areas of the state has brought in a record 160 primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and dentists over the past year surpassing estimates for the department’s medical placement services initiative.
According to the DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos, “We know that provider gaps still exist in parts of North Carolina and we are actively exploring ways to expand recruiting efforts and use technology, like telemedicine to meet these needs.”
The DHHS Office of Rural Health and Community Care (ORHCC) has recruited an average of 149 health professionals to provide care to chronically underserved areas of the state for the past six years. According to federal guidelines, 78 counties in the state qualify as Health Professional Shortage Areas because of the shortage of primary medical care, 81 counties because of inadequate dental care, and 58 counties due to a lack of mental health providers.
Through loan repayment programs and incentives, DHHS has been working hard to recruit not only primary care physicians, but also dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychiatrists, and dental hygienists to work in the rural and underserved areas of the state.
The department has also been working with communities to determine where to find additional sources for funding that can include federal and philanthropic grants. With the support of state, federal, and philanthropic sources, ORHCC administers a budget of $37 million and provides service in all 100 counties. ORHCC is helping to develop innovative strategies to improve access, quality, and cost effective healthcare with a primary focus on the uninsured patient population.
ORHCC has also provided support to rural areas in the last years by providing capital funding and/or technology improvements to 19 rural health centers in 17 different counties. This is enabling 96,000 uninsured adults to connect to primary care medical homes, and manage a medication assistance program for more than 48,000 patients by providing free and low cost medications donated by pharmaceutical manufacturers.
For more information, go to www.ncdhhs.gov/orhcc.