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By growing the local health workforce, ARHP will increase local interest in health careers, assist rural students to excel, achieve, and matriculate through educational system, and increase provider recruitment and retention in the service area.
We want to grow interest in and support individuals desiring to pursue a health profession. We provide support and assistance to students through the educational pipeline and into health career placement within the ARHP service area.
Partners recognized that it is difficult to recruit to communities that do not have high quality schools, jobs for spouses, shopping, and the amenities of larger cities. We knew we had to figure out how to work with our students to get them into healthcare careers through education, mentoring, and financial assistance.
ARHP (in partnership with UAMS College of Medicine) has continued to provide “Grow your own healthcare pipeline” programs focusing on the development of interest, scholarship, and engagement of elementary, middle, and high school students into the field of healthcare (allied health, nursing, and medical fields). This past year, ARHP and UAMS provided ACT prep class scholarships, iPads, and calculators to 24 high school seniors wishing to enter the healthcare field. In May, ARHP, UAMS, and CHCA will introduce their new health careers workforce mobile unit that will be available at local schools and hospitals to mentor students wanting to enter into a healthcare field. The experience will include some simulation experience, discussion with healthcare professionals in various fields, and college counseling services. ARHP will also be developing a healthcare careers video to be shown in schools throughout south Arkansas.
ARHP (in partnership with UAMS College of Medicine) has 40 available paid internships this summer for high school seniors and college students preparing to go into a healthcare field. These students will work in ARHP hospitals and within the ARHP organization. Students will be trained as Community Health Workers, Mental Health First Aid, and more.
ARHP has partnered with UAMS College of Medicine and Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine to assist with the coordination and scheduling of medical school student clinical rotations with board-certified physicians throughout the south Arkansas region. Each college has designated coordinators who reside in the service area and work closely with these students throughout their experience. In 2020 - 2021, ARHP providers had 140 medical student rotations through these initiatives.
ARHP is working closely with UAMS and ARCOM to develop a new Rural Residency Training Program in south Arkansas with the entire residency experience within the rural setting. Partnering ARHP members include Ashley County Medical Center, Jefferson Regional, and Mainline Health Systems.
