West Virginia University Institute for Community and Rural Health, Morgantown, WA, USA.
West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Morgantown, WA, USA.
J Public Health Dent. 2022 Jan;82(1):113-117. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12454. Epub 2021 Apr 13.
Recruiting/retaining healthcare professionals within rural and underserved communities in the United States remains a challenge. The West Virginia University Institute for Community and Rural Health implemented a service scholarship program in 2011 to address a lack of dental and primary care.
Dental and medical students commit to practice 12-months full time following graduation in a Health Profession Shortage Area (HPSA) or Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) in West Virginia for each $25,000 received.
Since inception of the program, 20 of 23 (87 percent) dental recipients had completed their service commitment, 17 (85 percent) are still practicing in WV, and 3 (13 percent) are fulfilling their commitment. Four of 20 medical recipients have repaid (2) or fulfilled (2) program commitments and 16 are completing commitments or deferred during training. Retention rate is 82 percent for both dental and medical professionals following program completion.
Service scholarships effectively engage students to provide care in rural/underserved areas and remain there after program completion.
在美国，招募/留住农村和服务不足社区的医疗保健专业人员仍然是一个挑战。西弗吉尼亚大学社区和农村健康研究所于 2011 年实施了一项服务奖学金计划，以解决牙科和初级保健的短缺问题。
牙科和医学生承诺在毕业后的 12 个月内全职在西弗吉尼亚州的卫生专业人员短缺地区（HPSA）或城乡通勤区（RUCA）工作，每收到 25,000 美元即可获得一笔奖学金。
自该计划启动以来，23 名牙科受助人中有 20 名（87%）完成了服务承诺，其中 17 名（85%）仍在西弗吉尼亚州执业，3 名（13%）正在履行承诺。20 名医疗受助人中有 4 名（2 名）已偿还（2 名）或履行（2 名）了计划承诺，16 名正在完成承诺或在培训期间延期。计划完成后，牙科和医疗专业人员的保留率分别为 82%。
服务奖学金有效地吸引学生在农村/服务不足地区提供医疗服务，并在计划完成后继续留在那里。
