The Advantages of Practicing Rural Medicine
Why practice rural medicine?
Most physicians who have practiced medicine in rural areas agree that the pace of rural health care is slower, and that their relationships with patients are better than they are in urban or suburban practice.
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Myth-Busting
Exploding the Myths
In 1977, Dr. Robert Boyer, a family physician who practiced rural medicine in
Kansas for 30 years, was the first physician to be named Family Doctor of the
Year (now "Family Physician of the Year") by the American Academy of Family
Physicians. In his presentation to rural medicine students at the University of
Nebraska Medical College, Dr. Boyer said that medical schools foster "myths and
misunderstandings" about rural health care that he proceeded to dispel by
sharing some of the experiences from his own 30 years in rural medicine.
Myth #1: You won't make much money.
Myth #2: You'll be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (so you won't have
time for yourself or your family).
Myth #3: You can't possibly know enough. (You'll be isolated and "in over
your head" professionally.)
Click here to continue Myth-Busting:
Exploding the Myths (PDF)
Rural Healthcare Recruiting
Tips for recruitment and retention of physicians in non-metropolitan areas
The economies of rural communities and the lifestyle associated with the rural
communities are strong barriers to recruiting and retaining physicians.
Social Fulfillment -- Consider the social adjustment for not only the physician,
but also for the physician’s family, including spouse’s career and the
educational facilities available for children.
Recruitment must be a community effort, involving other local providers,
community leaders and facilities if possible. This helps to orient the
physician and family to the cultural aspects of the community.
Professional Fulfillment -- Adequate CME should be accessible. Develop programs
allowing rural clinicians to undertake periodic rotations through academic
hospital services (with locum tenens backup) in order to learn or update
procedures.
(National Rural Health Association, Physician Recruitment and Retention,
November 1998)
