Outliers: Success in Rural Healthcare

Many Nebraska counties are experiencing a shortage of primary health care providers. It is not unusual for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide primary care when a M.D. isn\u27t in the county. The 2009 report from University of Nebraska Medical Center titled A Critical Match documented the healthcare professional shortages by specialty and provided recommendations to alleviate it. This research involved the purchase of 2013 data from the Health Professions Tracking Services of primary care nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) in rural Nebraskan counties and compared it to the 2009 findings. The analyses revealed that while the shortage of PA’s is narrowing in many counties, the NP shortage remains widespread. By showing the dire need for rural practitioners to undergraduates entering healthcare as a profession they can begin to consider how they can make a difference in rural communities. Beyond the quantitative data illustrating the need, the qualitative portion of this project involved interviewing individuals who practice, research, and contribute to healthcare in rural communities. The most compelling content from the interviews was paired with photos. The resulting posters are the final deliverables of this research and will hang in the UNO anatomy and physiology lab and other venues with the intent of encouraging undergraduates to start thinking about practicing in a rural community early in their education