The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), today awarded $750,000 to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital to establish a new residency program in North Hawaii.
“This is an important day for the State of Hawaii and The Queen’s Health Systems,” said Jill Hoggard Green, PhD, RN, President and CEO of The Queen’s Health Systems. “Our Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital caregivers are dedicated to demonstrating unwavering perseverance, innovation and aloha. We thank each and every one of them for the outstanding care they provide to our patients on a daily basis. We believe this award will play a significant role in training more doctors and advancing our Mission of providing quality care to the people of North Hawaii for many years going forward.”
More than $11 million has been awarded to 15 organizations across the country to develop new family medicine residency programs with enhanced obstetrical training in rural communities.
“Every American should have access to high-quality health care no matter where they live. That is why HHS is investing in programs that improve and expand access in geographic areas that have historically been underserved,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Training more doctors in our country’s rural areas is a proven strategy to recruit and retain doctors to serve rural communities. By funding new residency programs focused on OB-GYN training, we can help eliminate maternal care deserts, an important step in making pregnancy and childbirth safer.
“Rural communities need physicians, and the Health Resources and Services Administration is committed to helping build this workforce through steps like our work to create rural residency programs,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “This funding will help build pathways for rural students to become doctors and help rural communities recruit and train more doctors. We are particularly pleased to support new programs aimed at training new physicians to care for pregnant women.” Recently, QNHCH received a Top Rural Hospital award by the Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers known as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.
