The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will use a multimillion-dollar federal grant to train health care workers to deliver better primary care services to populations in rural areas.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services renewed the funding from its “Point of Service Maintenance and Enhancement” grant. UAMS will receive about $1.2 million this summer. The institution will match that amount.
It’s projected to receive $11.5 million, with about half from non-governmental funds during the program’s five-year term, UAMS said in a news release Tuesday.
“This grant is crucial in supporting UAMS’ efforts to develop the health care workforce throughout our state, especially in rural and underserved communities,” Dr. Richard Turnage, vice chancellor for Regional Campuses, said in a statement.
The funding will enable UAMS to promote health professions to students in Arkansas and increase awareness of health careers, like physicians, nurses and behaviorial health care providers, UAMS said.
The grant is part of a federal initiative created in 1971 to recruit, train and retain health professionals in underserved areas. UAMS started a regional campus initiative in 1973 to encourage medical school candidates to remain in the state and to help address an uneven distribution of primary care physicians.
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