Health professions recruitment & retention
Local opportunities
Throughout the year, AHEC coordinates conferences and workshops that provide continuing education credits to health professionals.
The availability of educational programming in local communities is an important key to provider retention. Partnerships with telehealth networks across the region have broadened the programming base.
The Washington Recruitment Group (WRG)
The Washington Recruitment Group is a collaborative effort of seven non-profit agencies that works to improve recruitment and retention efforts in Washington's rural and urban underserved communities. The seven entities are:
- Area Health Education Center of Eastern Washington, WSU Extension
- Washington State Department of Health Community and Rural Health
- University of Washington Department of Family Medicine
- Washington State Health Profession Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program
- Western Washington Area Health Education Center
- Washington State Primary Care Office
- Northwest Regional Primary Care Association
National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet)
The National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network is composed of forty-five State Offices of Rural Health, AHECs, Cooperative Agreement Agencies, and State Primary Care Associations.
Washington State Rural Locum Tenens Program
Recognizing the critical shortage of health care providers in rural communities throughout the state, the state legislature created the Washington Rural Locum Tenens Program in 1991.
This program, managed by the AHEC at WSU Extension on behalf of the state, matches qualified locum tenens with rural clinics, hospitals, and health care professionals in need of temporary assistance.
AHEC serves as a clearinghouse and referral system that screens applicants, verifies licensure, and refers locum tenens to communities in need.
Retired Provider Program
A program for providers who would like to volunteer at rural and underserved clinic sites in Washington State. Contact:
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Western Washington AHEC 2033 6th Avenue, Suite 310 Seattle, WA 98121 |
Telephone: 206.441.7137 E-mail: wwahec@wwahec.org |
Health professions education & training
Clinical placement
AHEC collaborates with colleges and universities to facilitate student clinical placements in rural and urban underserved sites, providing
- Preceptor identification
- Housing facilitation
- Scholarship information
We also coordinate with professional schools outside of Washington State for rotations within Washington.
Program development
AHEC can provide research, facilitation, and evaluation for healthcare workforce development. A current example is collaboration with RONE (Rural Outreach Nursing Education program), a CNA–RN career path.
More information
- Nursing fellowship opportunities and internships
- Nursing Scholarships and Financial Aid (PDF)
- Health Care Experience Guide for K–12 (DOC)
If you don't have the free PDF plug-in, download it here.
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