Primary Care Training Programs Receive $17 Million

The Health Resources and Services Administration has issued $17 million in grants to bolster primary care training programs in communities across the nation.  

“(The grants) target community-level health professions shortages, support workforce diversity, and provide for retooling our workforce to meet the demands of an aging population, the chronically ill, and disabled,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, RN.

The 99 grants, funded under 2010 appropriations, will support 21 Area Health Education Centers, 68 Geriatric Academic Career awards, and 10 Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide Program awards.

Awards fall under two AHEC programs that will receive a total of $10 million: Infrastructure development grants go to four universities to establish and advance state-wide or multi-county AHEC programs; and point of service maintenance and enhancement grants support 17 universities that have established partnerships with community-based AHECs.

AHECs are interdisciplinary, community-based training programs led by academic and community leaders who collaborate to improve the supply, distribution, diversity, and quality of healthcare personnel, with a special focus on primary care personnel in rural and other underserved communities.