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Summer/Fall 2016
9
Strengthening the primary care
workforce in rural Oregon
In addition to the three prior programs,
part of the rural transformation funds
will go to support the Oregon Graduate
Medical Education Consortium, which
will help bolster the number of graduate
medical education slots in Oregon. This
short-term action will have long-term
rewards through an increase in primary
care providers with a special focus on
rural training tracks.
“Oregon’s rural hospitals are
grateful for this opportunity and the
support for rural health care from
the legislature,” said Rick Yecny,
Chief Administrative Officer of
PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Hospital
in Florence, who chairs the OAHHS
Small and Rural Hospital Committee.
“Oregon’s small and rural hospitals
face a difficult task in ensuring
they transform to meet the needs
of the modern health care system
while staying financially viable. The
programs envisioned will accelerate
that process and ensure Oregon’s rural
residents continue to receive top-notch
health care in the communities where
they live.”
“I applaud these organizations for
their dedication to finding ways to
transform rural health care in Oregon,”
said Rep. Nathanson, Co-chair of
the Joint Committee on Ways and
Means, who was a key champion of the
funding. “I’m proud to support these
investments, which will have long-
term benefits for health care access in
rural Oregon.”
H
Calling All Rural Providers
OAHHS urges all of Oregon’s small
and rural hospitals to participate in
the upcoming transformation pro-
grams. Rural hospitals have the flex-
ibility to select any or all programs
depending on their local needs. To
learn more and to apply, contact
Katie Harris, OAHHS Director of
Program Management, at kharris@
oahhs.org or (503) 479-6027.