HEALTH PROFESSIONALS'LOCATION AND PRACTICE IN RURAL UNDERSERVED AREAS AN ASSESSMENT OF VARIABLES

Despite the increased number of health
professionals trained during the past two
decades, many communities in rural Appalachia
continue to suffer from health
manpower shortages. For example, about
half of the 49 Kentucky Appalachian counties
are designated, either partially or
wholly, as primary care health manpower
shortage areas.

Recognizing the health care needs of
this area of the state, the University of
Kentucky's Physician Assistant Program
designed and implemented a three-year
project aimed at increasing the number of
graduates locating in rural Appalachia.
This project, entitled "Training for Appalachian
Practice'' or TAP, for short, has
now entered its third year as a funded
project. The major focus of this project
has been to assess variables related to
students' intentions to practice in the
area, providing knowledge about and
clinical experiences in the areas, and
increasing employment opportunities for
physician assistants (PAS) by working
with physicians in Appalachian counties.