Gritman works to increase primary care
GRITMAN
Medical Center
recently progressed on two fronts to
address a critical shortage of pri-
mary care providers in Idaho.
As part of its mission to improve the
health of people in our communities,
Gritman has recently partnered with a
federal agency to bring more doctors
to the area and made a $100,000 gi
to endow two medical school scholar-
ships. According to a 2013 report from
the Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho
ranks at the bottom of the 50 states for
the number of primary care physicians
per capita.
In June, Gritman became a par-
ticipating hospital with the National
Health Service Corps (NHSC), a
federal agency that helps primary
care providers pay o their student
loans in exchange for working in
underserved areas. Since 1972, more
than 45,000 primary health profes-
sionals have served in the NHSC.
“As a Critical Access Hospital,
Gritman has a duty to meet the
healthcare needs of our rural popu-
lation, and the NHSC designation
will de nitely help,” said Connie Os-
born, Gritman Chief Quality O cer,
who submitted the application. “ e
communities we serve will bene t
from increased access to primary
care doctors, nurse practitioners and
physician assistants.”
About 55 percent of participants
remain in the community at least
10 years a er ful lling their obliga-
tions, according to the NHSC, with
retention rates highest in rural areas.
In July, the Gritman Medical
Center Foundation and Auxiliary
gave $100,000 to create endowed
scholarships through the Washing-
ton, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and
Idaho (WWAMI) Medical Education
Program.
e endowed scholarships will pro-
vide much-needed support for Idaho
medical students
attending the Univer-
sity of Washington
School of Medicine
(UWSOM). Idaho
has more than
100 medical students in the UWSOM
WWAMI program.
“Idaho has been an important
partner in WWAMI for more than
40 years, and the gi
from Gritman will go
a long way towards
helping our students
pursue their dreams
of becoming physi-
cians,” said Paul Ramsey, MD, CEO,
UWMedicine, and Dean, UWSOM.
Idaho ranks at the bottom
of the 50 states for the
number of primary care
physicians per capita.
Breast cancer is a serious disease that a ects many of our family and friends every
year. One way Gritman Medical Center raises awareness is through the annual Pink
Tea fundraiser in October, which replenishes the funds for Gritman’s Bosom Bud-
dies program.
The Pink Tea gets community members and businesses together to communi-
cate the seriousness of breast cancer, while having fun with friends.
The Bosom Buddies program provides a free screening mammogram to Latah
County women who otherwise could not a ord one. Early detection of breast
cancer by mammography leads to a greater range of treatment options, including
less-aggressive surgery and less-aggressive adjuvant therapy.
These free screening mammograms are scheduled through Gritman’s Women’s
Imaging Center. A physician’s referral is required, and appointments for a
free screening can be made by calling
208-882-5377
.
If you did not attend the Pink Tea but would still like to donate to the Bosom
Buddies program, donations are accepted throughout the year. To make a dona-
tion, visit
gritman.org
and click on the “Foundation” tab, or mail donations to
Bosom Buddies c/o Gritman Foundation, 700 S. Main St., Moscow, ID 83843.
Serious fun at the PinkTea
connections
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