Senator Clinton Welcomes Passage of Her Measures to Improve Medical Training in Underserved Areas

July 23, 2008 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today welcomed Senate passage of her measure to improve access to professional development and training for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) members, who provide care in medically underserved areas. The provision, passed as part of the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2007, expands provisions in law that direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assist Corps members in establishing and maintaining professional relationships and development opportunities, focusing especially on establishing relationships with institutions where they may serve and teach, and increasing networking and support opportunities among Corps members.  It also requires entities to which Corps members are assigned to demonstrate willingness to support and facilitate mentorships and other training opportunities. Senator Clinton offered the measure in an effort to improve retention of health professionals in the communities where they serve, particularly rural areas.

“In many areas that lack adequate access to medical facilities, from urban neighborhoods to rural communities, the National Health Service Corps is a vital lifeline. The admirable men and women who join the Corps and practice medicine in these underserved areas deserve our support and respect. This measure will assist them continue their professional development and provide even greater service to our communities,” Senator Clinton said.

The National Health Service Corps plays a critical role in providing care for medically underserved populations by placing clinicians in urban and rural communities with severe shortages of health care providers. It serves nearly 5 million Americans each year.  The NHSC is comprised of scholarship and loan repayment programs that provide education assistance to health professions students in return for a period of obligated service in a shortage area. Nationwide, there is a shortage of primary care providers, and this problem is exacerbated in rural and certain urban areas.  The availability of primary care physicians has deteriorated in recent years.

Senator Clinton has long been active in efforts to expand primary care and increase support for health professionals. She has supported efforts to increase funding for community health centers, and has sought to reverse cuts to health professional training programs, such as those carried out by New York’s Area Health Education Centers.

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A Native of New York, Rena writes as a freelance speech writer, ghost writer, journalist, and poet. She has been represented by the Hearst Corporation, Conde Nast, and Random House.