June 2013 Newsletter

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has commissioned the CFI Group, an independent market research firm, to conduct our Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey of NHSC Scholars, Students-to-Service Awardees, and Loan Repayment Program Participants. The information from the survey will be used to improve NHSC customer service practices, communication methods, and much more. It will be administered in June and July and we encourage you to take the time to complete it. The survey is anonymous and the candid information you share will inform how the Corps can continue to improve how we serve you.

The Corps wants to feature U.S. Armed Forces veterans and former military service members who are now serving the Nation’s underserved as NHSC members for our Member Stories series.

If you are a veteran or former military service member and are willing to share your story about the journey that led you to primary care and the NHSC, email your contact information to NHSCstories@hrsa.gov.

Read about the experiences of NHSC members we’ve featured on our website.

On June 20, 2013, NHSC is hosting a Program Guidelines Webcast for Scholars who are completing their training and preparing for placement at an NHSC site. This interactive webcast will provide guidelines for Scholars to follow during the NHSC site selection and match process. Scholars will learn how to access the NHSC Jobs Center, tips for using regional resources, and the required documentation for matching to a site.

Conducting interviews for job placement, submitting interview travel requests, information about travel allotments and relocating your family and household goods will also be covered.

Additional information will be provided via email and on the NHSC Facebook page.

Corps Community Day will take place on October 10, 2013 and the Corps and primary care will be celebrated during the entire month of October.  This year’s theme for Corps Community Day is “Access Today. Healthy Communities Tomorrow.”  This theme illustrates how the increased access to care through the Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment will positively affect the overall health of communities where NHSC-approved sites operate.  

Current members, Alumni, and NHSC Ambassadors are planning all types of events in their communities for Corps Community Day.  They’re educating students about careers in primary care, planning health screenings, organizing events to educate the community about open enrollment, among many other activities.  

Get involved today!  Visit the Corps Community Day webpage for more information and email CorpsCommunityDay@hrsa.gov with your event information.     

The Corps will hold two Virtual Job Fairs this summer promoting NHSC-approved sites with job openings for NHSC Scholars. These Virtual Job Fairs are the primary opportunity for NHSC sites to recruit Scholars who are currently in the placement process. The Scholar Orientation and Placement Conference will not be held this year, and these two NHSC Scholar Virtual Job Fairs will replace the recruitment fair previously held at the annual conference. If your site has a vacancy for eligible NHSC Scholars, don’t miss this opportunity to promote your job openings to Scholars from across the country.

The NHSC Physician Assistant Scholar Virtual Job Fair on Saturday, July 20 from 1-4 p.m. EDT will focus on job opportunities for NHSC Scholars completing their Physician Assistant education and training.

The NHSC Scholar Virtual Job Fair on Saturday, August 10 from 1-4 p.m. EDT will focus on job opportunities for NHSC Scholars at sites with primary care medical and dental job vacancies.

Sites must register to participate; site registration closes on Tuesday, June 18. Space is limited for each job fair, and sites may participate in either of these two NHSC Scholar Virtual Job Fairs. If interest exceeds capacity, the NHSC will provide space to sites on a first-come, first-served basis, but will ensure the sites participating represent a variety of geographic locations, discipline openings and site types.

Registration for NHSC Scholars will open on June 26, so mark your calendars!

Visit the NHSC Virtual Job Fair web page or email NHSCVirtualJobFair@hrsa.gov for more information.

Did you know that Private Sector and Public Sector employers can post jobs for Veterans at no cost, online, at the National Labor Exchange at www.us.jobs or through the local American Job Center (AJC)? Employers who would like to participate in the Veterans Job Bank initiative can learn more by visiting the National Resource Directory webpage containing instructions for employer participation. An online suite of services is also available to employers through the new CareerOneStop Business Center.

Some key features of the Business Center include:

• Easy-to-download reports about employment projections and concentrations, wages, and unemployment rates for specific areas
• Access to local training and educational institutions
• Listings of top industries of employment - by state, metro area, and county
• A tool for finding military occupations related to specific civilian occupations
• Certifications for a particular position
• Assistance with writing job descriptions

Work Opportunity Tax Credits are also available to businesses who hire Veterans. Through this program, businesses can receive between $2,400 and $9,600 in annual tax credits for any eligible newly hired veteran.

If you are an employer or know of one who is interested in hiring Veterans, please contact your local AJC or go to www.us.jobs. You may also visit the VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Site for Employers.

* This publication may contain non-Federal resources in order to provide additional information to consumers. The views and content in these resources have not been formally approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Listing these resources is not an endorsement by HHS or HRSA.

NHSC in the News

• Local Doc Named California's Family Physician of the Year (The Bakersfield Californian, May 8, 2013)
• Wendell Couple Opens Urgent Care Clinic (MagicValley.com, May 13, 2013)

Program Guidelines Webcast Recording Now Available

The NHSC Loan Repayment Program Guidelines Webcastwas held on April 30. If you were unable to participate, please consider watching the recording, which reviews “need-to-know” information and tools for successfully completing your service commitment.

NHSC Wants to Hear From You!
Do you have a story suggestion or a way that we can improve Corps Connections? We’d love to hear from you! Send your feedback to: CorpsConnections@hrsa.gov.