Overview
Our Goal
Our goal is to improve health in the state through the participation of the people in rural communities of need. We aim to improve morbidity and mortality statistics as well as the quality of life. In addition, we want to enhance the integrated and stable preventative and curative health care. A secondary goal is to generate the interest of rural students, including American Indians, in health professions careers with the hope they will return to their home areas to serve their communities.
Tactics
We will bridge the campuses of medical school and utilize the vast clinical faculty throughout the state. These clinical faculty members will collaborate with our department faculty members to perform meaningful research for the state.
Best Practices
Our research will be based on the following best practices:
- Application of evidence-based medicine
- Establishment of practice guidelines
- Innovative treatment protocols
- Cost-effective care
History
The Department of Family Medicine created the center in 2002 after Senator Tim Johnson secured federal funding. The Center built on a research emphasis of epidemiology and health services research within the medical school.