New models of training primary care physicians and health care professionals in health centers are necessary to ensure adequate health workforce to staff our nation's safety net clinics.

The Education Health Center Initiative (EHCI) provides consulting services, educational materials, and information about developing relationships between health centers and residency programs. The EHCI partnership has conducted research, developed informational resources, and sponsored trainings at both the regional and national levels on the Education Health Center model.

EHCI staff and partners can conduct an initial feasibility assessment to determine a member’s organizational capacity and to recommend next steps. This innovative program seeks to educate physicians while contributing to the stability of the primary care safety net.

Read more on the Education Health Center Initiative website.

Get started now! Take this brief, 10-minute survey to determine your workforce needs.

The Vision

• Break down barriers to access so every American has a patient-centered medical home

The Challenges

• A shortage of family physicians and other health care professionals in health centers which could lead to the collapse of the health safety net serving the most vulnerable populations
• Lack of secure funding, a threat to the survival of family medicine residency programs and other clinical programs

Our Solutions

• EHCI Offers consulting services to Community Health Centers for a range of health professionals. We can help achieve your goals with innovative workforce solutions.
• We provide consulting services for Family Medical Residency Programs, Nurse Practitioner Programs, and Physician Assistant Programs

The Partners

• Community health centers and family medicine residencies
• The Education Health Center Initiative (EHCI) is a regional grassroots coalition to support Family Medicine Residencies and Community Health Centers who are interested in the creation or expansion of an educational health center program, most specifically a Teaching Health Center.
• NWRPCA is proud to collaborate with its organizational partner—the Community Health Association of Mountain/Plains States, to sponsor and support the Education Health Center Initiative.

For questions, please contact:

Naveen Kanithi, Workforce Program Manager, or call 206-783-3004 x 20

Theresa Vu, Workforce Program Coordinator, or call 206-783-3004 x 28

View the NWRPCA EHCI brochure