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Show Health Manpower Shortage Hinders Rural Development "Our Town Needs a Doctor" Doc-tor" are words often seen on a sign at the entrance to rural communities. The words express ex-press a problem that confronts many areas, mostly nonmetro, in 46 states and Puerto Rico. A community that lacks adequate health services also has other problems, says USDA's Rural Development Service (RDS). Why? Because good health facilities not only help in improving the quality of life, they aid in community efforts to attract new businesses business-es and industries that are needed for economic growth and development. Eighty-five percent of the areas are rural counties or parts of counties that generally lack one physician for every 4,000 people, according to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) administered by the Department of Health,' Education, Educa-tion, and Welfare. Some of the areas have no physician at all. They also are suffering from a shortage of dentists, nurses, and other health professionals. Here in Utah, the areas designated by NHSC (in Federal Register, Feb. 25, 1975) as having critical health manpower shortages are in the counties of Daggett, Emery, Garfield, Millard, Piute, Rich, San Juan, and Tooele. RDS suggests that communities commun-ities lacking in adequate health facilities should seek help through NHSC. The agency recruits salaried physicians phys-icians and other health professionals- for placement in areas that have a critical shortage short-age of health manpower. The professionals and communities are brought together through a program that matches the needs and desires of each for mutual compatibility. There are some 600 corps physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health professionals now serving about 250 communities comm-unities in 42 states. Recruitment and placement of health teams isn't the only objective of the corps. It also helps communities build their own health resources and assists them in developing systems that attract and keep health professionals. To ach-ive ach-ive this goal, the corps provides administrative and financial management assistance assis-tance to the community. About a quarter of the clinics assisted by the corps have become independent since the health service was established about 2'j years ago and no longer need federal support. The corps represents a cooperative venture between the federal government and a local community working as partners to provide quality medical care. Any community " that has a critical shortage of health manpower and a willingness to cooperate in the management and development of a successful medical or dental practice may apply for assistance. The community (or a combination com-bination of several) must agree to manage the practice and to provide an office, equipment, supplies, and staff support. It is responsible for purchasing, billing, and collecting fees charged to recover the reasonable reason-able cost of providing health services. No patient, however, is refused services because of inability to pay. Any surplus revenue must be used by the community to improve its health care system. Communities in Utah wishing wish-ing to take part in the program should contact the NHSC Regional Program Consultant at 11037 Federal Building, Denver, Colo. 80202. |