L.A. Care launched the Elevating the Safety Net Residency Support Program in July 2019. The program seeks proposals from teaching institutions that have a commitment to the safety net and a focus on physician training in community health settings. L.A. Care is committed to providing funding that will allow institutions to add residency and faculty positions to their programs. This will improve the chances of increasing the number of physicians who can provide high-quality care to the underserved patient population of Los Angeles County.
"Studies show that physicians often stay in the region where they complete their residency, and we need them here now," says L.A. Care CEO John Baackes. "Vulnerable communities in L.A. County are already experiencing a physician shortage, so we have to do all we can to keep physicians here."
In 2019, L.A. Care committed $5.2 million to establish 14 new residency positions at five medical training institutions in Los Angeles County.
In 2020, L.A. Care committed $4.4 million to establish nine new residency positions at four medical training institutions in Los Angeles County.