Report of the Findings and Recommendations
of the Recruitment and Retention Forums
On September 11 and 12, 2001 forums were held in Jackson and Brewton, Alabama for the purpose of assessing the local population to identify problems, concerns, and barriers specific to each community regarding the issues of recruiting and retaining health care professionals. In addition, the Southwest Alabama Area Health Education Center was seeking recommendations from forum participants, which would form the basis of an action plan for improving recruitment and retention of health care professionals in Southwest Alabama. These forums were jointly sponsored by the Alabama Southern Rural Access Program, the State of Alabama Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, and the Southwest Alabama Area Health Education Center.
Dr. Don Pathman, Research Director at the University of North Carolina's Shepps Center, provided information on the recruitment and retention of health care professionals to forum attendees. Other presentations were made by highly qualified officials representing the Alabama Southern Rural Access Program, the State of Alabama Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, the Southwest Alabama Area Health Education Center, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Local community attendees included health care professionals, health care providers, community representatives, school system representatives, and others interested in assuring adequate and quality health care for their communities.
To view the report on these forums, click on the following: