Recruitment Fairs for Rural Communities
Robert C. Bowman, M.D.
Purpose - more practitioners for rural areas, especially tougher locations, review of process involved and examples in NE
Those interested in rural practice take their careers seriously. Choosing a rural practice involves a courtship and marriage type experience, and hopefully there is not a divorce. Recruitment fairs can certainly help break the ice, or can help lead to final negotiations.
Recruiting New Rural Practitioners
Ultimate Recruitment Experience
Two stages possible
Can do both stages in a 4 hour period, but not together
Stage 1 Objective
Tends to be a party for students, lots of perks
Residents actually looking may be driven off by lack of chance to talk 1 on 1
Less interesting to communities, due to previous
Best in late afternoon
Convenient for students, usually late afternoon
Some snacks and drinks helpful, not too costly
Stage 1 Opportunities
Needs the help of rural student group and other student groups
Partners easily with Rural High School Health Fair
Could partner with Rural Health Association, but only if the meeting were in Omaha
and it is so far to date only located at Kearney in the fall
Some political opportunities for leaders to visit, circulate
Stage 2 Objective
Smaller, one on one
Targets those nearest graduation
Senior students - some leave the state for training
First and second year residents, thirds usually have decided
Physician assistants
Nurse practitioners, especially FNP
Best prospects seem to look early and decide early
Convenient to residents - noon (if short) or evening
Meal essential to draw participants, good dinner will attract more than requiring attendance
Needs to involve spouses and rural practitioners
Multiple contacts from the town helpful to best inform recruits
Communities must be prepared, understand the level of expectation
Stage 2 Opportunities
Can work it into the curricula for residents to improve attendance
Communities need training, especially from those with more experience
Communities learn best from residents, especially the more organized types
Could bring in residents from other programs, especially those who went to med school here
NeRHA meeting at Kearney a good partner, would take special effort to
attract western locations (panhandle partnership)
NAFP meeting in March a potential partner, but booths expensive
NAFP preventive meeting in fall a possibility (could marry this to NeRHA and Fair)
FP Review attracts a fair number of rural practitioners who could come to fair
Helpful to time Fair when most residents around, July a good month or during Team Teaching Day
Obstacles at UNMC and NHS
Poor understanding of different stages of recruitment
Good participation from UNMC FP and 4 residents a year from Lincoln,
but not Clarkson or Creighton Yet (mail and present not enough)
Need a contact within each residency
Suitable sites for events limited until recently (Storz)
Little long term planning
Little unity in planning from various entities with rural interest
Poor contact list (has potential for improvement with tracking database)
Changes difficult to accomplish, lots of inertia
Obstacles within the state
Office of Rural Health controls Nebraska Rural Health Association location
Keeps meeting in Kearney, OK for Stage 2, not Stage 1
Omaha meeting would boost contacts, opportunities, and income for the group
Special concerns - communities may not do Stage 2 even when set up, many come to Omaha to meet each other and shop, with recruitment as much excuse as work
History of the Fair
Started Stage 1 before 1993 with a mix of all types of students to a mix of Stage 1 and 2
Lots of preparations in the past have been squashed by poor communication
Recently very tough to get resident participation without lots of effort
Difficult to get spouses and practitioners
Could be a great event or events, with mostly planning effort and coordination and some funds
Opportunity to get state or foundation funding or community funding to bring potential recruits from outside the state
Tennessee did a good job with some funds to gather communities and residents and spouses together for some booths and shared meals and entertainment. You know you are successful when you see strollers and lots of interactions.