Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program - Applicant: El Rio Health Eligible Entity Type: Federally Qualified Health Center Project Director/Contact: Douglas Spegman, MD; douglasjs@elrio.org; (520) 309-2506 Proposed Residency Type: Psychiatry Residency Program Funding Preference Statement: YES – AHEC Partnership Population Target Area(s): Tucson, Arizona Funding Amount Requested: $500,000 Projected Number of Residents: 24 residents in 6-6-6-6 model Anticipated ACGME Accreditation Date: May 2024 Anticipated Residency Matriculation Date: July 1, 2025 Founded in 1970, El Rio Santa Cruz Neighborhood Health Center dba El Rio Health (El Rio) is an innovative, highly-regarded, nonprofit health center in the United States. Motivated by its mission to improve the health of its community through comprehensive, accessible, affordable, quality, and compassionate care. Today, one in ten Tucson residents trust El Rio with their medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare. Tucson faces multiple socioeconomic and political challenges that deter access to care and healthcare utilization. Access to healthcare was one of the top-rated health priorities in the recent Pima County Community Health Needs Assessment. The assessment found that, within the county, access to care - including primary care, specialized care, and mental health services - is impacted by social determinants of health, specifically cultural and linguistically appropriate care, poverty, housing insecurity and homelessness, health insurance, transportation, and more. The burden of mental illness is substantial – to individuals, communities, and the national and global society. The social costs of mental and substance use disorders including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, drug and alcohol abuse, and more, are enormous. Mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety, can affect people's ability to participate in healthy behaviors. Poor mental health is a leading cause of disability and can devastate families and communities. It is associated with increased physical illness and has been linked with substance misuse. Results from Pima County's 2015 and subsequent Community Health Needs Assessments demonstrated similar findings of mental health disorders being closely linked with substance misuse, chronic health problems, and smoking. El Rio proposes to establish a new community-based psychiatry residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and has a strong sustainability plan to support it beyond the award period. To accomplish this, El Rio will obtain Sponsoring Institution, and ACGME accreditation for a 6-6-6-6 Psychiatric Residency Program to begin on or before July 1, 2025 and develop a realistic and achievable sustainability plan that includes one or more ongoing funding stream(s) to sustain long-term resident training beyond the award period.
