University of Wisconsin–Madison Medical College of Wisconsin

Hospital Medicine and Fellowship Program in Rural North Dakota – A Multifaceted Success Story

S. Shiraz Hyder, MD; Mary Amundson, MA

WMJ. 2017;116(4):218-220.

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ABSTRACT

Introduction: Recruitment of hospitalists and primary care physicians for Critical Access Hospitals and tertiary care hospitals in North Dakota is difficult. To address this challenge, 2 programs were implemented in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Methods: St. Alexius Medical Center created a hospitalist fellowship training program in collaboration with the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences and physicians willing to work in Critical Access Hospitals were offered a joint appointment to teach hospitalist fellows and obtain a clinical academic appointment at the university.

Results: Since it was created in 2012, 84 physicians have applied for 13 fellowships. Of the 11 fellows who have completed the program, 64% (7/11) remained in North Dakota to practice.

Conclusions: Physicians are more likely to work in a rural Critical Access Hospital if they spend time working at a tertiary care center and have clinical academic appointments. Where recruitment is challenging, hospitalist fellowship programs are helpful in meeting the health care workforce demand.


Author Affiliations: St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, North Dakota (Hyder); Family & Community Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota (Amundson).
Corresponding Author: Mary Amundson, MA, Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, 1301 N Columbia Rd, Grand Forks, ND 58202; phone 701.777.4018; email mary.amundson@med.und.edu.
Financial Disclosures: None declared.
Funding/Support: None declared.
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