The MU School of Medicine is expanding health care access in rural areas. Research from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows only 18 percent of Missouri doctors practice in rural areas, despite 40 percent of the population living there. Ninety-nine Missouri counties are experiencing a shortage of health care professionals, leading MU to create the Rural Track Pipeline Program.
The Rural Track Pipeline Program recruits, trains and exposes the next wave of health care professionals to rural areas. This program encompasses four different community and curricular components, including the Lester R. Bryant Pre-Admissions Program, Summer Community Program, MU Rural Track Clerkship Program and Rural Track Elective Program.
“We preadmit students from rural communities so we get the best and brightest from areas of need for medical school,” said Kathleen Quinn, associate dean for rural health at the School of Medicine. “These students are the most likely to return to rural areas to practice. We offer them three rural clinical programs throughout medical school. Any student can do the programs; it is competitive, but any student can apply. [Participants] have longitudinal experience in the rural communities over the course of their medical school careers, so any of their misconceptions or fears are addressed; they are prepared to practice in a rural community where there might be fewer specialists or they’re caring for their neighbor.”
This program hopes to dispel misconceptions about working in a rural environment such as having a lack of available resources. Additionally, the pipeline program encourages medical students to move to these areas, Quinn said. Though this program has been in place for 20 years, a new element was recently added. Michelle Kenney, a participant in the rural medicine program, said the school has also started a new program for resident physicians that includes a lecture series and complete residency rotations within rural Missouri clinics and hospitals.
The presence of a physician creates an economic impact worth about $1.3 million for a rural community, Quinn said. A physician signals other health professionals to join them, hopefully allowing for full-range health care to be established in the future. It makes businesses more likely to locate to these areas as well, as there will be health care for their employees.
Potential lack of amenities may dissuade rural pipeline candidates. Urban students may also shy away from an environment they are not familiar with, Quinn said.
“You have to experience rural medicine to learn what it is and really want to go there,” Quinn said. “I have had urban background students be pleasantly surprised. They go and they think, ‘Oh my gosh, I can go to work in five to 10 minutes instead of 40 minutes; I don’t have to deal with traffic; I can work with generations of families; I can really know my patients; I can be a leader in the community.’”
In recent years, interest in the program has increased, showing that progress is attainable, Quinn said.
“Between academic year 2014 and 2018, we had 17-19 student participants,” Quinn said. “This year, starting in June, we had 26 students who want to participate in the Rural Track for six months of their third year of medical school. That’s almost 25 percent of the class. We’re absolutely thrilled, and the communities and hospitals hosting the students will have the opportunity to recruit their practice partners or their replacement if they are nearing retirement. The MU School of Medicine could not offer these opportunities without our community partners. These nine hospitals and related clinics are key to our success.”
The Rural Track Pipeline Program will expand as class sizes expand, with goals for the future including expanding residency opportunities to new sites and aiding in loan repayment, Quinn said.
