The
NHSC provides comprehensive team-based health care that bridges geographic,
financial, cultural, and language barriers. NHSC is part of the the
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) http://www.hrsa.gov/
and works closely with other HRSA bureaus and programs to recruit
primary care clinicians for communities in need. Through
their combined efforts, they are seeking to provide access to care
for upwards of 50 million Americans who might otherwise do without.
SEARCH
is a special program funded by NHSC to give health professions students
a taste of what is it like to work in an underserved setting. The
challenges in these clinic settings are very rewarding. Your experience
may convince you that you would like to have a career in an underserved
area. As
participants in the NHSC Tennessee SEARCH Program you will be part
of the larger goal of access to care for all people.
The
main goal of the program is to provide opportunities for health professions
students and residents to serve in interdisciplinary primary health
care teams within underserved communities through the United States.
The objectives of the SEARCH program are to: 1) facilitate and strengthen
community-academic linkages; and 2) increase the recruitment and the
retention of health care professionals in health professional shortage
areas. In order to accomplish these objectives SEARCH: 1) develops
linkages between community-oriented sites and academic institutions
that are mutually beneficial; 2) provides opportunities for students
and residents to train in interdisciplinary teams; 3) nurtures the
development of culturally competent, community responsive primary
care providers; and 4) expands statewide partnerships to form a network
of organizations to meet the diverse primary care needs to the underserved.
Before
you begin the manual, take a look at a 12-minute DVD clip that will
help you understand what it is like to have a career in an underserved
community. Tennessee Primary Care Association: Creating a Community
of Health presents interviews with practitioners and administrators
of clinics that serve the underserved communities in Tennessee. Click here to view the DVD
Good
luck with your SEARCH rotation. Please contact me at 615-329-3836,
ext. 16 or denise@tnpca.org
if you have any questions about the program.
Sincerely,
Denise Primm
NHSC Tennessee SEARCH Program
Tennessee Primary Care Association
416 Wilson Pike Circle
Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone: 615-329-3836 ext 16
Fax: 615-329-3823
denise@tnpca.org
Next: Introduction >>>
