Louisiana Primary Care Office
Improving Access to Primary Care For Louisiana Residents
In Louisiana, we take pride in the rich heritage and varied communities across our state, but the majority of our residents live in a health professional shortage area. These are geographic areas, populations and facilities with limited primary care, dental health and mental health providers and services. Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) Designations are used to prioritize and focus resources to help meet the unique health care needs in Louisiana.
The Well-Ahead Louisiana Primary Care Office (LPCO) proactively works to build the capacity of community health systems to provide integrated primary care, behavioral health, and dental healthcare services to reduce health disparities in the state. The LPCO works with various stakeholders to support effective healthcare organizations, high quality clinical practices, and the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers. Through its work with organizations across Louisiana, the Primary Care Office is committed to developing strong community partnerships and integrated primary healthcare services to reduce health disparities in the State.
Find out if you are in a Health Professional Shortage Area
Calling Louisiana Home?
Our food, music, festivals, history and most importantly, our people make Louisiana one-of-a-kind. With an eclectic blend of arts and music venues, more than 400 festivals held annually, an environment known as a “Sportsman’s Paradise” and numerous opportunities to enjoy the scenic outdoors, Louisiana residents benefit from the state’s unique quality of life. We also enjoy a low cost of living, with affordable housing and low utility rates, a strong economy and increasing job growth across multiple industries. All these reasons and more make Louisiana a great place to call home.
Improving Recruitment and Retention of Healthcare Providers in Rural Louisiana
We are committed to working with our rural and underserved community’s hospitals, clinics and providers to improve local workforce recruitment and retention. For Louisiana healthcare employers, providers, and students there are a number of recruitment and retention programs available to help expand healthcare in rural and medically underserved areas across Louisiana.
3RNet: Looking to hire?
Get exclusive access to national job candidates through the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet). Post rural job opportunities and share with qualified, motivated candidates. Looking for the right job? Check out the job opportunities available in rural and underserved areas in Louisiana.
Louisiana Conrad 30/J-1 Visa Waiver Program
For the purpose of recruiting needed primary care and specialty physicians, this program sponsors up to 30 international medical graduates each year.
Louisiana Physician Loan Repayment Program
Physicians serving in healthcare facilities located in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area could be eligible to receive up to $30,000 annually for repayment of governmental or commercial educational loans for a five-year commitment.
National Health Service Corps
To support healthcare clinicians, this program offers tax-free loan repayment assistance to qualified clinicians who work at an NHSC approved site within a health professional area.
National Interest Waiver Program
This program allows foreign physicians to request a waiver of the U.S. immigration labor certification requirements by providing healthcare to those living in health professional shortage areas.
Primary Care Needs Assessment
The primary care needs assessments works to identify communities with the greatest unmet healthcare needs, disparities and health workforce shortages. Additionally, the needs assessment guides the development of long-term strategic planning to address healthcare workforce needs across the state of Louisiana.
Rural Health Scholars Program
Through this program, healthcare professional students are recruited to participate in a short-term rotation to gain experience in HPSA facilities. Well-Ahead builds partnerships between rural and underserved healthcare facilities and colleges and universities to encourage students to apply.
State Loan Repayment Program
To encourage practitioners to serve in health professional shortage areas, this program repays governmental or commercial educational loans for eligible healthcare practitioners.