Primary Health Care Services

Evaluation of the Effectiveness
of the National Health Service Corps

Authors:
CECIL G. SHEPS CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH:
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL:
Thomas R. Konrad, Ph.D.
Kirsten Leysieffer, M.A.
Catherine Stevens, M.S.P.H.

MATHEMATICA POLICY RESEARCH, INC
Carol Irvin, Ph.D.
Rose Marie Martinez, Sc.D.
Theresa T. H. Nguyen, M.D., M.S.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. INTRODUCTION

A. PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE
B. EVALUATION DESIGN

II. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CLINICIAN EXPERIENCES IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS:
MOTIVATIONS, MATCHES, AND FIT AT THE SITE

A. FACETS
B. RESULTS
C. CONCLUSIONS

III. NHSC CLINICIANS' SATISFACTION WITH CORPS EXPERIENCE

A. MEASURES
B. RESULTS
C. SUMMARY

IV. CONTRIBUTIONS OF NHSC CLINICIANS

A. SERVICE EXPANSION
B. INITIATION OF COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PRIMARY CARE PROGRAMS
C. PARTICIPATION IN CLINICAL LEADERSHIP
D. PARTICIPATION IN QUALITY ASSURANCE ACTIVITIES
E. CONCLUSION

V. RETENTION

A. ALUMNI CLINICIANS: SELF-REPORTED RETENTION
B. CURRENT CLINICIANS: INTENDED RETENTION
C. REVIEW OF PATTERNS OF RETENTION
D. ANSWERS TO STUDY QUESTIONS

VI. LIMITATIONS AND STRENGTHS OF THE STUDY

A. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
B. STRENGTHS OF THE STUDY

VII. CONCLUSIONS

A. LOAN REPAYMENT VERSUS SCHOLARSHIP
B. LENGTH OF SERVICE OBLIGATION
C. PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE NHSC
D. RURAL VERSUS URBAN PRACTICE SETTINGS
E. WORK SETTINGS--COMMUNITY OR MIGRANT HEALTH CENTER AND INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE SITES VERSUS OTHERS
F. IDENTIFICATION OF CHARACTERISTICS OF
POTENTIAL RECRUITS
G. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
H. CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the National Health Service Corps

Table of Contents

Evaluation of the Effectiveness
of the National Health Service Corps