| Funding Will Support Existing and New Primary Care Residency Programs The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) announced the release of $35 million in grants to 86 primary care residency programs to help expand health care access to Californians most in need. On September 23 the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission, which recommends funding awards for multiple medical disciplines under the Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Act, approved award recommendations for the Primary Care Residency Program. This initiative funds institutions that train primary care health professionals to provide care in medically underserved areas of the state. See the entire list of awardees on the OSHPD website. “Thanks to continued support from our Governor and Legislators, the Song-Brown program is again able to advance its mission to increase the state’s primary care providers,” said Dr. William Henning, chair of the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission. “In a time of pandemic, economic instability and healthcare uncertainty, Song-Brown funding supports improved access for underserved and vulnerable populations. Song-Brown funds now support almost 730 primary care residency positions annually and has funded 185 new positions since 2017.” The commission recommended $19,375,000 for existing residency programs, $3,988,506 for new residency programs, $8,500,000 for Teaching Health Centers, and $3,900,000 for expanding primary care residency slots at existing programs. This funding will support 242 residency slots, from existing to new positions. OSHPD has approved the recommendations. “Today’s announcement is intended to help build new and existing training programs in order to help not only mitigate the shortage of primary care providers in areas most in need, but ensure that the providers reflect the communities they serve,” said Marko Mijic, OSHPD Acting Director. Organizations qualify for the grant awards based on their ability to attract and admit underrepresented minorities into their programs, as well as those from underserved communities. Residency programs must train students in underserved areas and place their graduates in those regions. Medical disciplines under the Primary Care Residency Program include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics. OSHPD is the leader in collecting data and disseminating information about California's healthcare infrastructure. OSHPD promotes an equitably distributed healthcare workforce and monitors the construction, renovation and seismic safety of hospitals and skilled nursing facilities and provides loan insurance to assist the capital needs of California's nonprofit healthcare facilities. Learn more about OSHPD at www.oshpd.ca.gov and follow us on social media at Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. |
