RESUMO
PURPOSE: There is a shortage of primary care and rural physicians in the United States. In 1974, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU-CHM) created the Rural Physician Program (RPP) to address these issues and increase primary care physicians in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP). The authors describe the program and analyze 30 years of outcomes. METHOD: Using American Medical Association Masterfile data, authors performed cross-sectional analysis of all MSU-CHM graduates from 1978 to 2006. Logistic regression was used to compare specialty choice and practice location for RPP graduates and all other MSU-CHM graduates. RPP graduate outcomes were compared over time. RESULTS: In 2011, RPP graduates were more likely to practice primary care (RPP 88/168 [48%]; MSU-CHM 1,143/2,610 [44%]; P = .04), practice a rural high-need specialty (RPP 122/168 [73%]; MSU-CHM 1,612/2,610 [62%]; P = .006), practice in Michigan (RPP 89/168 [53%]; MSU-CHM 1,119/2,610 [43%]; P = .01), practice in the UP region (RPP 44/168 [26%]; MSU-CHM 28/2,610 [1%]; P < .001), practice in a Health Professional Shortage Area (RPP 106/168 [63%]; MSU-CHM 1,279/2,610 [49%]; P < .001), and practice in a rural area (RPP 76/168 [45%]; MSU-CHM 361/2,610 [14%]; P < .001). Percentages of graduates meeting program goals and from the UP region have increased as the program has matured. CONCLUSIONS: Program characteristics, including targeting rurally interested students, primary care focus, and substantial clinical training within a rural region, can successfully foster rural physician careers. The greatest benefit is to the rural region where the program is based.
Assuntos
Educação de Graduação em Medicina , Médicos de Atenção Primária/provisão & distribuição , Serviços de Saúde Rural , Faculdades de Medicina , Adulto , Escolha da Profissão , Currículo , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Área Carente de Assistência Médica , Michigan , Atenção Primária à Saúde , Área de Atuação Profissional/estatística & dados numéricos , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , Recursos Humanos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Nurses and other health professionals are often asked about the benefits and risks of fish consumption. The combination of conflicting media messages about these risks and benefits and limited knowledge has led to confusion about how to properly advise people about safe fish consumption. "Fish Facts for Health Professionals" was the result of a collaborative effort of environmental, public health, medical, nursing, and media experts to create a web-based educational series to address the need for reliable information on fish consumption. Using interviews and real case studies, the 3- to 5-minute media modules provided a strong visual element while remaining conversational. The modules were viewed worldwide, and 121 participants successfully completed the requirements for professional continuing education credit.