Grantee:

North Carolina Medical Society Foundation

(Raleigh)

Current Grant:

Five-year, $10 Million (2006)

Project:

Increase the number of medical professionals serving in rural and high need areas of the state

Impact:

We are currently in the third year of a five-year, $10 million partnership to support the Community Practitioner Program (CPP) of the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation (NCMSF).  

The program recruits health professionals to high need areas in the state. Up to half medical education debts are paid off for physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who agree to serve at least five years in a community designated as rural, economically distressed or having a shortage of health care professionals.

The first year of the Foundation’s investment saw program participation increase by one-third, and primary care patient visits in underserved communities increase by 12 percent to nearly 476,000. To date, care to the uninsured is valued at nearly $12.6 million.

Currently, there are 93 participating practitioners across the state, serving 35 counties. The number of participants is expected to increase significantly by 2010 under this joint effort.

 More information can be found at www.ncmsfoundation.org