G. COMMUNITY SITE EMPLOYMENT
1. General Information
In exchange for NHSC LRP benefits, NHSC LRP participants
must be engaged in the full-time clinical practice (see
Section H)
of their profession (as defined by the NHSC) at NHSC-approved
sites in federally designated HPSAs. Approved NHSC
sites provide outpatient primary health services to populations
residing in HPSAs throughout the Nation. Hospital
day treatment centers and inpatient facilities do not qualify
as NHSC service sites.
The NHSC Opportunities List reflects currently approved
NHSC community sites with current vacancies (i.e., includes
specific primary care employment opportunities in designated
HPSAs at community sites that have been approved by the
NHSC). The NHSC Opportunities List is prepared each
year by the Division of Site and Clinician Recruitment within
BCRS. The NHSC
Opportunities List for FY 2009 will be posted on
the NHSC Web Site
under Job
Opportunities. Only those vacancies posted on the
NHSC Opportunities List
on or before March 27, 2009, will be considered
for FY 2009 NHSC LRP two-year contract awards.
If the site identified on the Community Site Information
Form (CSIF) submitted with the clinician application is
not approved by the NHSC (i.e., is not on the NHSC Opportunities
List), the site must complete and submit a Recruitment
and Retention Assistance (R&R) Application.
Those sites that are in the process of becoming
NHSC-approved sites have until March 27, 2009,
to submit an R&R
Application. (See Special Items of Interest “Employment
Changes During Application Process”.)
School or home-based health programs serving HPSA populations
may appear on the NHSC Opportunities List if the site vacancy
position meets NHSC full-time clinical practice requirements
(see Section H of the Bulletin). Please note that
if a school-based program only provides clinical services
to students during the school year, a clinician will need
an additional service site in the approved HPSA during the
summer months in order to participate in the NHSC LRP and
remain in compliance with NHSC full-time clinical practice
requirements.
Community sites may have several vacancies per discipline
category posted on the NHSC Opportunities List. Please
see Section C. 3.d. of this Bulletin for further
information on funding levels per discipline category per
site. If funding remains available, the NHSC LRP may
fund beyond 2 two-year contract awards per discipline
category for each community site.
At the time the application is submitted, the applicant
must have a signed job offer and acceptance letter or signed
contract for employment at the community site(s) (maximum
of 4 sites). The NHSC LRP CSIF documents the applicant's
employment status. This form must be submitted with the
application by January 31, 2009 (postmark
date). The applicant must include a separate CSIF
for each site location or employment site. Except
as indicated below, employment at the approved NHSC community
site(s) must begin on or before July 1, 2009.
(**Physician and dental residents who will complete a residency
program by June 30, 2009 must begin service
at the approved NHSC community site(s) no later than August
15, 2009.)
An applicant’s acceptance of an offer of employment to
fill a vacancy on the NHSC Opportunities List does not guarantee
that the applicant will subsequently receive an NHSC LRP
contract award. See Section
C of this Bulletin describing the eligibility
requirements, qualification factors, and funding preferences
used by the NHSC LRP to determine which applicants will
receive NHSC LRP contract awards. In addition, eligible
sites could have certain positions that do not meet NHSC
service requirements. It is important for an NHSC
LRP applicant to determine that the site has requested a
vacancy for the applicant’s position and
that the position is in compliance with NHSC full-time service
requirements.
Applicants become participants in the NHSC LRP (i.e., the
contract becomes effective) on the date the Secretary of
Health and Human Services or his/her Designee countersigns
the NHSC LRP contract. The applicant's signature alone
on this contract does not constitute a contractual
agreement.
When the employment start date precedes the effective date
of the NHSC LRP contract, no NHSC LRP service credit will
be approved for employment prior to the effective date of
the contract and no loan repayments will be made for any
professional practice performed before the effective date
of the contract.
Please contact your State
Primary Care Organization (PCO) or Primary
Care Association (PCA) representative for further assistance
regarding site or HPSA problems (e.g., problems with site
approval).
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Full-Time Clinical Practice
Questions? nhsc@discoverylogic.com
or 1-800-638-0824 Monday through Friday (except Federal
holidays) 8:30 am to 5 pm ET.
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