Student/Resident Experiences and Rotations in Community Health (SEARCH)

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) established the SEARCH program to introduce students to the diversity of patients in medically underserved areas and to encourage them to pursue community-based practice opportunities upon completion of their studies. In collaboration with the Utah Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), AUCH coordinates the SEARCH program for the state of Utah.

SEARCH students are placed in health professional or medically underserved areas. Most of the placements are in urban, community, farm worker, or homeless health care centers. Some opportunities also exist for placements in rural areas. Placements are four to six weeks (160-240 hours), and include a clinical rotation and a community-based project that meets the interests of the student and the needs of the health center.

Since the program's inception in 1998, 241  medical, dental, nurse practitioner, social work, and physician assistant students have been placed in twenty-four participating sites, with fifty-two clinicians serving as student preceptors throughout Utah.

159 NHSC Utah SEARCH participants have completed their programs/residencies
77 NHSC Utah SEARCH participants have responded to AUCH tracking efforts-following a summary of the location of their practice or residency sites:

	40 (52%) have entered primary care practice or residency in a HPSA and/or MUA.
	28 (36%) are not practicing in a HPSA or MUA
	9 (12%) have not yet chosen a practice site

Service to Utah’s underserved communities:

All of the NHSC Utah SEARCH participants have contributed to Utah’s underserved populations by dedicating a minimum of 20% (32-48 hours) of their placement time completing a community-based project chosen by the student and their preceptor. The projects expose the NHSC Utah SEARCH participants to the special communities in which their patients live. Following is a sample of completed projects:

	Development of an oral hygiene instruction program accessible to all patients upon their first visit to the Community Health Centers, Inc.’s dental clinic. The instruction program insures that patients are taught culturally appropriate prevention at a clinic where 66% of the patients are of Hispanic origin.
	Organization of a clinic for diabetic patients of Midtown Community Health Center (MTCHC) to receive foot and eye exams. MTCHC has utilized 28 NHSC Utah SEARCH participants, many who have contributed enormously to the preventive care of Midtown CHC’s diabetic clients.
	Creation of educational materials to encourage homeless patients with latent tuberculosis to complete their therapy (based on the NHSC Utah SEARCH participant’s findings that the completion rates for therapy were 4%).

What health center and training program administrators have said about the NHSC Utah SEARCH Program:

	“The NHSC Utah SEARCH students have been of great benefit to Midtown’s patient population through their student projects. Their work has assisted us in better understanding our practice and resulted in improved patient care.” Lisa Nichols, Executive Director Midtown Community Health Center
	“The NHSC Utah SEARCH program provides the opportunity to influence the provider pipeline early during students’ schooling.” Keith Horwood, MD, Medical Director Community Health Centers, Inc.
	“The NHSC Utah SEARCH participants who come through our clinic are starting a process that is critical to the long-term health care needs in our country. They are much more likely to practice medicine with underserved populations than students who were not exposed to caring for the poor or homeless during their schooling.” Christopher Viavant, MBA, CFO Wasatch Homeless Health Care, Inc.
	“The providers who have precepted our students through the NHSC Utah SEARCH program have been exemplary clinicians and role models. Furthermore, other members of the clinics’ interdisciplinary teams interface well with our students and provide a broader clinical experience than would be present in many private provider offices.” Kathleen Stillion-Allen, APRN, MS, C-FNP Co-Director, NP Program, University of Utah College of Nursing
	“The SEARCH Program has played a vital role in linking health care students and residents to those practices that serve under-served populations” Stephen D. Ratcliffe, MD, MSPH Associate Professor, University of Utah DFPM Former NHSC Scholar still in practice in community health after 20 years   What NHSC Utah SEARCH participants have said about the program:
	“Dr. Egan is a wonderful doctor and teacher. I learned so much from him!” Jacque Hinde Monument Valley Health Clinic, UT
	“Dr. Stevens is one of the finest physicians I know and I will always be grateful for his influence in my education and career choice.” Travis Slade, MD Baptist Health Systems, Birmingham, AL
	“My rotation at Northwest Community Health Center with Gillian Tufts, FNP, was the best of my schooling experiences.” Jennifer Trautmann, NP

UTAH INFORMATION:
For more information about the Utah SEARCH program, contact:

Amy Sawaya
Workforce/SEARCH Coordinator
(801) 716-4610

APPLY:
Download the application for the Utah SEARCH program from the Utah AHEC program.

Utah AHEC Student Application Form

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Visit the NHSC for general information about the National Health Service Corps.