(Washington, D.C.) –
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced a major investment in
training primary care doctors in Olympia, Washington. Murray has been a leader
in the Senate in working to make the necessary investments to help Washington
state communities train workers and create jobs in the health care sector.
“Despite the recession,
our region’s innovative health care industry continues to grow,” said Senator Murray. “That means one
of the smartest job creation investments we can make is in expanding our health
care workforce. This funding is going to train the primary care physicians we
need to care for our seniors and families, and to make sure that everyone has
access to quality care.”
As a senior member of the
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Murray played a
critical role in ensuring the Health Care Reform bill made investments in creating
jobs to fill our shortfall in doctors, nurses, and health care workers.
“We appreciate
Senator Murray’s leadership in working to improve access to primary care and
ensure that Americans can get the care they need, when they need it, right in
their community,” said Secretary
of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today. “The
investments we’re making today in increasing our primary care workforce will
bring us closer to the day when every American has access to high-quality,
coordinated care from a doctor, nurse, and health care team near their home,
deeply invested in their health.”
Providence
St. Peter Hospital will receive $960,000 to increase the
number of residents trained in family medicine. They will use the 5-year grant to provide stipend
support for new enrollees in 3-year primary care residency training
programs.
“We
are grateful for the leadership that Senator Murray provides to our community,” said Medrice
Coluccio, Chief Executive of Providence Southwest Washington Service Area “This
support will make a positive difference in our Providence Family Practice
Residency program.”
“This
funding will definitely support the need to increase our supply of primary care
physicians,”
said Dr. Kevin Haughton, Director of the Providence Family Medicine
Residency Program. “We know that better access to primary care means
better quality care and lower costs. But our supply of primary care physicians
is not adequate to meet the needs as baby boomers age and need more health
care. This kind of support is essential if we are going to improve that state
of health care both here and throughout the country.”
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