TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: BECOME A RURAL TRAINING SITE START A RURAL PROGRAM

Become a Rural Training Site

First Steps - Becoming a Rural Training Site

Contact WCRGME to set up an initial assessment of the resident training opportunities at your Wisconsin rural hospital or clinic. Technical assistance is supported by WRPRAP.

What is Involved in the Initial Assessment?

The initial assessment involves either an in-person or virtual visit to meet with leadership to discuss residency training options. We encourage anyone with a vested interest to participate in the conversation, i.e. physician champion, CMO, hospital administrator, etc. Follow-up conversations are encouraged to ensure a strong foundation for future GME opportunities.

Discussion Topics Include:

• Partnership development and scenario planning

• Funding for GME development and long-term sustainability

• Interest level in teaching residents and exploring rural GME capacity

• Potential avenues for medical education

• Types and volumes of medical services provided

• Questions/Concerns about teaching residents

The Need for Rural Hospital & Clinic Training Sites

Rural hospitals and clinics are strategically positioned to train residents for the vital role of rural primary care and high need specialty training in the specialties of family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, and psychiatry. Rural graduate medical education (GME) exposes trainees to rural healthcare, communities, and rural culture increasing the likelihood that they will ultimately choose to practice in a similar setting. By offering high-quality, broad spectrum, apprenticeship model training, rural hospitals and clinics provide an educational experience that prepares future doctors for the unique and rewarding practice of rural medicine.

Causes for Increased Need of Rural Physicians:

• Only 2% of residency training occurs in rural areas

• 25% of the population lives in rural areas, while only less than 10% of the physicians practice there

• 21% of Wisconsin counties are considered maternal deserts

• Physician population trends including retirements and generational workforce trends

• An aging rural population resulting in higher healthcare demands

• Declining enrollment of medical students from a rural background

Learn more about Wisconsin physician workforce trends here.

Benefits of Training Residents:

• Opportunity to “grow your own” practice partners

• Save on recruitment and on-boarding costs

• Attract and retain physicians who have a heart for teaching

• Advance medical staff as learners challenge and stimulate best practice

• Increase patient access and specialist referrals

• Access faculty development and staff education opportunities

• Elevate organizational image as an educational training site

• Invest community in training future doctors

• Benefit from residents participating in community learning and leadership projects

Hey Doc: Memoirs of a Rural Family Physician

“A rural hospital will never equal the facilities of a larger urban hospital, but that is not an excuse to close rural hospitals. I knew that without our smaller hospital staff, people living in these areas would have no chance at all.”

Dr. James Damos, former Baraboo RTT Family Medicine Residency Program Director, shares his experiences and viewpoints about rural medicine in his book, released July 2019 / Purchase his book