LOUISVILLE, Ky. and
TAMPA, Fla., May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing the
need for quality primary care in rural areas of the commonwealth,
WellCare of Kentucky, a subsidiary
of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), is funding two new
scholarship programs aimed at increasing the number of doctors and
nurses working in primary medicine and psychiatry in Eastern Kentucky.
WellCare, in conjunction with the University of Kentucky Medical School and College
of Nursing, will fund up to 30 scholarships valued at $180,000 for medical and nursing students at
various stages of their studies.
"We know that access to doctors, nurses and other health care
providers directly affects health outcomes," said Bill Jones, president, WellCare of Kentucky. "When health care is in short supply
or located far away, people are less likely to get routine
screenings, tests and vaccinations – the type of care that can
catch problems early or even prevent illness altogether. Anything
we can do to encourage more providers to locate in underserved
areas will be a direct benefit to the health of our state."
Despite the importance of primary and psychiatric care,
communities in rural Kentucky,
particularly in the eastern part of the state, have struggled to
attract and retain an adequate number of primary care providers –
both doctors and advanced practice nurses.
Dr. Kevin Pearce, the
University of Kentucky College of
Medicine associate dean for Rural and Community Health thanked the
WellCare Foundation for the scholarships, and said that the
scholarships will be awarded to students who exhibit interest in
caring for medically underserved Kentuckians.
"Kentucky has significant
physician shortages, especially in our rural communities, and these
scholarships will be helpful in mitigating our physician
shortages," said Pearce. "We thank WellCare for this gift that will
boost Kentucky's healthcare
workforce and thereby improve the health of individuals in our
communities."
"We are pleased to see a financial incentive like this that will
encourage medical and nursing students to think about the impact
they can make on a community that needs their skills," said Dr.
Frances Feltner, director of the
University of Kentucky Center of
Excellence in Rural Health. "We will be following the results of
this program carefully to gauge its success in encouraging more
medical professionals to build their careers in Eastern Kentucky."
Medical residents currently training in Eastern Kentucky say immersion in the local
communities is a crucial component of preparing for a career in
rural communities.
"Students interested in becoming health care providers in rural
areas must receive medical training in rural communities," said
Jordan Adams, a University of Kentucky College of Medicine graduate
and medical resident in Hazard,
Kentucky. "Many socioeconomic issues are distinct to these
areas and directly affect health. These include critical access to
facilities and support systems including transportation, lack of
education and employment opportunities, and economic disadvantages
of practicing in areas of high poverty and unemployment."
Dr. Sharon Hunsucker, the first
Ph.D. graduate of the University of
Kentucky College of Nursing's Occupational and Environmental
Health Nurse (OEHN) Ph.D. Training Program, said that programs that
give doctors and nurses more rural experience will improve lives
and even the regional economy.
"It is my hope to give a voice to and increase awareness of
worker health in rural areas to improve health and quality of life,
decreasing disability in rural areas and improving the social and
economic wellbeing of communities by identifying ways to ensure a
healthier rural workforce," Dr. Hunsucker said.
"Physicians for the Commonwealth" Scholarship to Support 20
Beginning Medical Students
"The "WellCare Physicians for the Commonwealth Program" will
award 20 $5,000 one-year scholarships
to incoming medical students who have a strong interest in the
University of Kentucky's Rural
Physician Leadership program and are interested in serving an
underserved population within Kentucky. The College of Medicine scholarships
will support medical students in the University of Kentucky Rural Physician Leadership
Program in Morehead and students
who will attend the new University of
Kentucky College of Medicine Branch Campus in Bowling Green opening in 2018.
The Rural Physician Leadership program offers students
opportunities to gain two years of clinical experience with a
rural, underserved Kentucky
populations. Data shows that physicians who train in more rural
areas are more likely to stay in those areas to practice.
For more information or to apply for these scholarships contact
Julie McDaniel, financial aid
director, at the University of Kentucky
College of Medicine at julie.mcdaniel@uky.edu.
College Of Nursing Scholarships will help Nurses Complete
Studies
WellCare is also partnering with the University of Kentucky's College of Nursing to
provide $80,000 in scholarship funds
for the University of Kentucky College
of Nursing. The nurses receiving the scholarships will be in the
school's Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program, which focuses on
preparing graduates to lead at the highest clinical and executive
ranks.
These scholarships will cover up to ten $8,000 per-semester scholarships for the
five-semester study program, and will be awarded to nurses who plan
on practicing in primary medicine or behavioral health in rural
Kentucky.
Students interested in pursuing the WellCare Scholarship in
Nursing should contact Dr. Sheila Melander, assistant
dean of Graduate Faculty Affairs, at sheila.melander@uky.edu.
As of March 31, 2017, WellCare
serves approximately 446,000 Medicaid members, 9,000 Medicare
Advantage plan members and 22,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
members in Kentucky. To learn more
about how WellCare cares for Kentuckians, watch Brandi Logan's member story at
http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in
Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health
Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing
government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through
Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans,
to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical
needs. WellCare serves approximately 4.1 million members nationwide
as of March 31, 2017. For more
information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at
www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at
https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.