HRSA, Abt, and ACU Collaborating to Help New Healthcare Clinicians Succeed in Underserved Areas
Rockville, Md. – The demand for healthcare services in the United States is outpacing the number of care providers, and projections show that trend continuing into the future, exacerbating an already overstretched healthcare system. Worse still, the communities most in need face systemic inequities and are typically those with the fewest primary healthcare providers. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce is partnering with Abt Associates and the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) to improve support for those entering the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), the federal program placing clinicians in underserved areas in exchange for loan repayment.
Undeserved communities face limited access to healthcare due to many factors, from remote or rural locations, to deep-rooted challenges like fewer educational opportunities, poverty, food insecurity, lack of affordable housing and other social determinants of health. Such challenges contribute to attrition of health care providers. The NHSC Pipeline Readiness Technical Assistance (TA) initiative will support new clinicians and NHSC clinic sites by building capacity to engage with their communities.
Abt will provide virtual technical assistance through this $4 million contract, and is partnering with ACU, which was founded by NHSC alumni and is a recognized leader in clinician workforce recruitment and retention.
“Abt has had a 25-year partnership with HRSA to improve Americans’ health,” said Abt Principal Associate Ann Loeffler, MSPH, PMP, “and we are excited to work with ACU and leverage our cutting-edge technology to extend healthcare to communities where it is needed most.”
About Abt Associates
Abt Associates is a global consulting and research firm that uses data and bold thinking to improve the quality of people’s lives. From combatting infectious disease and conducting rigorous program evaluations, to ensuring safe drinking water and promoting access to affordable housing—and more—we partner with clients and communities to tackle their most complex challenges. https://www.abtassociates.com
Contact:
Eric Tischler
eric_tischler@abtassoc.com
(301) 347-5492
