A study by researchers from the Cecil Sheps Center for Health Services at the University of North Carolina and the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNET) analyzed survey data from licensed clinicians working in rural safety net practices across 21 states from 2015 to 2022. They found that nearly two-thirds of the 778 survey respondents had, during their formal education, experienced medically underserved populations in rural counties. This clearly links educational opportunities in rural areas with clinicians’ likelihood to eventually practice in rural areas. These results support the integration of clinicians within these communities for longer retention in rural safety net practices. Read more on preparing behavioral health clinicians for success and retention in rural safety net practices.
