Growing a Rural Healthcare Workforce

School of Medicine

Funding will be used to provide Texas A&M medical students with rural Texas clinical experiences during training. Program team members will also involve rural community leadership and an integrated program with rural ISDs providing a K-12 Healthcare career curriculum that includes medical student participation to encourage rural ISD students to consider Healthcare careers.

Programs to establish and expand A&M Rural-focused Physician Residency Programs will also receive funding.

Latest Research: Influences of rural background and rural residency training on rural practice choice among family physicians

patient and parent on a call with physican for telehealth visit

Telemedicine

ARCHI, School of Medicine, and School of Nursing

The team will establish a program that provides Healthcare specialty services through Telehealth in high-need areas of rural Texas, initially focusing on mental health services in year 1, followed by physician specialty consultations, adding a new medical specialty each year. Educational support for rural clinicians will be part of the teleconsultation services, including psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, to enhance the knowledge and care provided by local rural clinicians.

rural town landscape with railroad track and older buildings

Expanding Rural Healthcare Access

School of Nursing

Programs to Expand Rural Healthcare Access by creating new Rural Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics in areas of limited healthcare access.

group of nursing students learning together

Rural Health Nursing Initiative for Recruitment, Education, and Remote Support

School of Nursing

Nursing programs will include rural outreach, rural-focused curriculums, FNP and PMHNP growth and fellowship opportunities, educational scholarships, and educational advancements such as RN to BSN, BSN to FNP, and FNP to PMHNNP students with a rural focus.

students in hospital setting caring for patient

A&M Care Rural Hospital Targeted Technical Assistance program

ARCHI

Team members will provide in-depth direct support for rural hospitals to improve strategy, staffing recruitment and retention, finance, marketing, and leadership to ensure hospitals can maintain healthcare services. The team will meet regularly via Zoom or in person with rural hospital leadership to identify areas of need, provide expert recommendations, coordinate improvement plans, and highlight state and federal programs to assist in healthcare sustainability.

physician and patient in clinical setting

Clinically Integrated Network/Value Based Care Technical Assistance Program

ARCHI

Team members work with rural hospitals and clinics to support negotiating and initiating contracts with payers for Value-Based Care agreements. Clinical teams will provide a centralized Electronic Medical Records system (EMR) and Nurse Care Managers to assist with remote patient case management and care to improve preventive care and high-value care in rural communities.