Changing the medical school curriculum to improve patient access to primary care

Article Abstract:

Access to health care depends on the availability of services and on the ability to pay for services. These issues are closely linked, and cannot be considered in isolation. Primary care is undervalued in the United States, in contrast to the situation in the other industrialized nations. Part of the blame must rest with medical education itself. In 1970 the Minnesota legislature, with the University of Minnesota Medical School, began a program to change this situation. The Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP) was developed to provide medical students with exposure to community medicine in various areas of the state through a kind of apprenticeship to physicians serving rural and minority populations. Physicians are more likely to choose communities they are familiar with when they begin their practices, and RPAP graduates are very likely to choose a rural setting. The program has been a cost-effective program for Minnesota. The primary care physician-to-population ratio is the best in the country, and rural residents have excellent access to primary care. It has been suggested that the program be extended to indigent areas of Minneapolis-St. Paul. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Innovations, Training, Medically uninsured persons, Curricula, Physicians (General practice), General practitioners, Medical education policy, University of Minnesota Medical School

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Improving the supply of physicians in rural areas

Article Abstract:

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) may need to revise its management policies so that it can retain more physicians in a rural health care setting. The NHSC is a federal program that places physicians in a rural community after completing their residency. Most of these physicians attended medical school and did their residency at a large urban hospital or medical center. While fulfilling their obligation to the NHSC, they are usually working alone or in a two-physician clinic in a small rural community. It is unrealistic to expect these physicians to remain in an rural setting after completing their obligation to the NHSC. Many have never lived outside an urban setting at any other time in their lives. To retain more physicians in rural health care, the NHSC may need to work more closely with medical schools and develop a more supportive attitude towards its participants.

Editorial, Management, Medicine, Rural, Rural medicine, United States. National Health Service Corps

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Physicians as Double Agents

Article Abstract:

Fifteen health care experts identified five areas that could help physicians in their role as double agents. Most physicians do what is best for their patients. However, managed care organizations ask physicians to do what is best for the company and its shareholders. Researchers analyzed over 100 articles and sent a questionnaire to 15 influential health care leaders. They included CEOs of large health care systems, physician group practices, physician practice management companies and academic physicians.

Medicine, Medical practice

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