From pipeline to practice: Utilizing tracking mechanisms for longitudinal evaluation of physician recruitment across the health workforce continuum.

PURPOSE: Area Health Education Centers work with community partners to prepare a diverse, primary care workforce particularly among rural and underserved communities. We set out to assess our impact on the physician workforce across a multitude of short-term, intermediate, and long-term benchmarks METHOD: We used a comprehensive evaluation scaffolding to assess benchmarks of success across the workforce pipeline including short-term (i.e. pre-medical intent to pursue a health career or medical students' intent to practice in primary care), intermediate (college matriculation and primary care residency match rates) and longterm measures (licensure and medical practice location of program participants).

RESULTS: We identified significant findings in each part of the AHEC program continuum. Among our alumni, we found a significant increase in the pre-medical learner's intent to pursue a health care career. Among medical students, we found a significant increase in intent to practice in primary care, rural areas, and medically underserved communities and a high rate of primary care residency match (compared to peers). Approximately one-third of licensed physicians are now practicing medicine serve in an underserved community CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the value of longitudinal evaluation on confirming that participation in an AHEC supported program strengthen the physician workforce development.