Washington D.C., — On July 7, 2015, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly welcomed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Announcement that the Lugar Center for Rural Health at Union Hospital, Inc. will receive a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Primary Care Training Enhancement Grant award. Donnelly wrote a letter in February 2015 in support of the Center’s application. The Lugar Center for Rural Health at Union Hospital will use the $1,037,383 grant —over a five-year period—to support important training in geriatrics at Union Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency program.
Donnelly said, “I believe all Hoosiers — whether they live in a city or rural community — should have access to quality health care. With the average lifespan increasing among Americans and many seniors relying on primary care, it is important that medical providers are prepared to deliver the best possible care in every community. Indiana’s senior population is expected to grow in the coming years, so we need to prepare those completing their medical residencies to meet the unique needs of Hoosier seniors. This Primary Care and Training Enhancement Grant will provide Union Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency program with the resources it needs to increase the number of primary care doctors ready to care for seniors in Terre Haute, Vigo County, and across Indiana.”
Joe Biggs, Ph.D., HSPP, Executive Director, Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health, said, “The Lugar Center for Rural Health at Union Hospital is grateful for Senator Donnelly's ongoing support of our mission of advancing rural health through education, innovation, and collaboration. His hands-on support of our projects, including letters of support and a visit to the Union Hospital Family Medicine Residency for a recent Donnelly Day, is indicative of his strong interest in rural health and medically underserved populations.”
Union Hospital Family Medicine Residency program aims to increase the number of primary care physicians who demonstrate competence in caring for the older population of underserved communities. In Indiana, the senior population (defined as 65 years and older) is projected to increase by approximately 595,000 people by 2050, a nearly 70 percent increase over 2010.
HRSA’s Primary Care Training and Enhancement Program aims to grow the primary care workforce by supporting training for future primary care clinicians and teachers, with an emphasis on primary care practice in rural and underserved areas. Learn more about HRSA’s Primary Care and Training Enhancement Program here.For information on how Donnelly’s office can assist cities, municipalities, and other groups applying for a federal grant, please visit http://www.donnelly.senate.gov/help/grants.
In April 2015, Donnelly held a “Donnelly Day” at Union Hospital in Terre Haute. There, he shadowed medical residents in the family medicine residency program and took part in training opportunities in a community-based medical education setting to better understand the health issues facing Union Hospital, the Vigo County community, and our state.
