Finding doctors for rural areas a challenge

The workload can be heavy and the lifestyle is not for everyone. With the aging rural population growing, the need for physicians to provide medical care close to home also is rising, but enticing physicians to rural areas is easier said than done for hospitals and clinics in the Sedalia area.

Marie Peoples, chief of primary care and rural health for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said 31 percent of the population of Missouri lives in rural areas. She said it is difficult to draw doctors into rural areas, primarily because of lower compensation. After leaving school, physicians usually have a high debt to pay off and some urban hospitals offer reimbursement programs that rural areas cannot.

James Noble, medical laboratory director and public information officer at I-70 Community Hospital in Sweet Springs, said another difficulty in drawing in physicians is adjusting to a rural lifestyle.

“It’s always difficult to attract physicians to a rural community,” Noble said.

On April 1, the I-70 Medical Clinic in Concordia opened, with Dr. Jon Mattson as the physician.

“So far, it’s been very positive,” Noble said.

Mattson has been taking patients part time at the clinic since November.

“We are all excited because when a community has more choices, it’s always better,” Noble said.

Residents of Concordia used to travel to Sweet Springs, Warrensburg, Sedalia or Blue Springs for non-emergency care. Bringing physicians to rural areas not only helps provide medical care but also impacts the economy.

Peoples said once a physician is hired, other positions will need to be filled. It may be a small staff to help at the clinic or hospital, but it does generate jobs and money.

“It’s dollars staying in the community,” Peoples said.

Kayla Benson, physician recruiter for Bothwell Regional Health Center, said physicians go through about five interviews before choosing a hospital to work for.

“It’s very competitive,” Benson said. “A lot are looking at the quality of life and diversity for themselves and their family.”

Benson began working for the hospital full time in December and since then has scheduled one interview with a potential physician per week.

John Dawes, CEO and president of Bothwell, said that since Benson has been with Bothwell, it has attracted more interviews than in the previous three years combined.

“We are looking at every angle we can use to differentiate us,” Dawes said.

Benson and Dawes use the community and surrounding areas to draw in physicians. Dawes said it helps to incorporate the positive aspects of Sedalia such as the new high school, the downtown area and many places for recreational activities such as Warsaw.

Benson will get to know a prospective employee and their family before an interview. She will have information about schools, organizations and activities, and put the person in contact with city officials and community leaders, if needed.

“We’re not just here to place that person, but we are placing their whole family,” Benson said.

By bringing physicians to hospitals and clinics in rural areas, it helps people save time and money.

“It’s a hard process, but it’s well worth it,” Benson said.

Bothwell is continuing efforts to recruit physicians to the area by visiting resident programs in schools to make contacts for the future.

“We are not in a bad situation at all to find candidates,” Benson said.