Colorado Rural Health Center Colorado’s Not-for-Profit State Office of Rural Health 3033 S Parker Rd., Suite 606 Aurora, Co

Colorado Rural Health Center Mission: “Enhancing healthcare services by providing information, education, linkages, tools and energy toward addressing rural healthcare issues." State Office of Rural Health for Colorado Non-Profit Established 1991

Rural Healthcare Workforce Issue: Shortage of Healthcare Workers

The Shortage is Across Disciplines: Physicians Mid-levels Dental Health Mental Health Pharmacy Allied Health Emergency Medical Services

Why? Not enough students graduating training programs to fill all the open positions Students need more exposure to rural practice in their training programs  Education  Rural rotation requirements/opportunities  Training programs located in rural communities

Why? Fewer providers interested in rural practice versus urban  Used to urban amenities  Job needs for significant others  Adjustment for family to rural community and lifestyle Communities recruitment and retention skills

Why? Baby boomers are reaching retirement age – higher population numbers needing more amounts of care Baby boomers retiring from their healthcare jobs

Why? Funding Reimbursement

Physicians - Why? Trend away from primary care Changes in work expectations:  New physicians don’t want to work 80 hours a week  New physicians won’t take as much call – or any at all Job sharing between physician couples – part time work More physicians are female than in the past and they need to take time off to raise their children, taking them out of the workforce

Pharmacists - Why?  Corporate chain stores  Mail order

Collaborative Assistance Needed For….. More schools or slots in schools for education of providers Encouraging rural rotations in school Encouraging primary care practice as a good thing Create rural training programs Distance learning programs Rural clinics offering to be a rural rotation site Development of local recruitment and retention committees

Collaborative Assistance Needed For….. Help with creative job sources for significant others of healthcare workers Financial support for workforce research Funding to support site visits for educating rural communities on recruitment and retention Support for non-profit recruitment service Participation in STRIDES Scholarships and loan repayment

Contact: Cherith Chapman Workforce Programs Manager Colorado Rural Health Center 3033 S Parker Rd, Suite 606 Aurora, CO