Increasing Graduate Medical Education (GME) in Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) could enhance physician recruitment and retention in rural America

Abstract

Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are essential to a functinoning health care safety net and are a potential partner of rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) which is associated with greater likelihood of service in rural and underserved areas. Currently very little Medicare funding supports GME in the CAH setting, highlighting a missed opportunity to improve access to care in rural America.