Health Care Workforce Develpment

While the shortage of physicians is national in scope, the demand in rural areas has traditionally been stronger.  Fifty-one million people, or about one-fifth of the population live in non-metropolitan areas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Twenty million of these live in Federally-designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). The threshold ratio of population to primary care physicians is 3500:1.

Chautauqua County has 4 HPSA designations including 2 primary care, one dental and one mental  health. The two primary care designations include rural Chautauqua (geographic) and Jamestown (low income). 

Dental services have a full county low income HPSA. CCHN is actively involved in a number of initiatives, outlined in this section, which center around physician recruitment and growing the healthcare service sector.

Chautauqua County is not immune from the physician shortage phenomenon faced by large and small communities across the nation.  

Physician recruitment has become increasingly competitive as the demand for and supply of physicians has changed.  Both the growth and the graying of the U.S. population have significantly increased the demand for healthcare services.  While on the supply side many physicians are reaching retirement age and fewer doctors are coming in. 

There are a number of indicators that point to a growing physician shortage in Chautauqua County.  According to the Community Needs Assessment 2008, published by Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. ,there are significant challenges in Chautauqua County in terms of health and mental health care access, exacerbated by a shortage of practitioners, lack of transportation and an ever increasing elderly population.   

For more information about physician recruitment efforts locally select this link to download – Physician Recruitment in Chautauqua County: Challenges and Opportunities/2009.

Since 2003 CCHN has provided housing to college students in a healthcare program in an effort to increase healthcare professionals practicing in the area. Since its inception more than 180 medical, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, dental, nurse practitioner and occupational therapy students have participated. Healthcare organizations from around the Jamestown area have not only referred students to the CCHN apartment but have invested in it directly by assisting with the cost of maintaining it. 

Since January of 2012, the DAR Home on Prospect Street is “home” for up to 9 students at any given time and has a full compliment of amenities including a washer and dryer, a dishwasher and off-street parking. New furniture, bedding and carpets were purchased through a Field of Interest grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF). 

Call (716) 338-0010 to check availability and reserve a space today! Click here to view the apartment.

Medical Education Outreach Community Program (MECO)

The MECO program is a 6-week, paid experience reserved for 1st and 2nd year medical students from Chautauqua County. The program offers a unique opportunity to rotate through and explore multiple disciplines in the medical field. Medical students can make requests of specific disciplines that they would like to explore before choosing the area they may choose to specialize. 

Medical Student Mixers

Twice a year CCHN and the IDS host a networking event to reach out to our local students enrolled in medical school or residency programs to allow them the opportunity to meet our physicians and hospital administrators. Students can build important conections and learn about exciting employment opportunities right here in Chautauqua County.

Contact Us

For more information about opportunities for local medical students, please call Kerri Brown at 338.0010 or email her at kerri.brown@cchn.net

CCHN has partnered with the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) on the Power of 3: Building a Healthcare Talent Pipeline, a grow-your-own program funded by the Sheldon Foundation since 2010.  The program has served  375 students from  6 different school districts by introducing them to healthcare career possibilities through interactive workshops and career fairs. Students have also had the opportunity to particpate in paid internships in the health care field. 

For more information, contact Kate Piazza at 716-487-5175