The Colorado Health Foundation (TCHF) has awarded the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) and the Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN) a combined $2 million in funding over the next three years to address Colorado’s safety net provider workforce crisis. This funding allows CRHC to expand its current Colorado Provider Recruitment (CPR) program, a full service recruitment program actively placing health professionals in rural and underserved areas. Although primarily focused on rural, CPR’s role has evolved into serving the entire safety net, which includes rural and urban entities serving vulnerable populations.

Since its inception in 2001, CPR has placed over 100 clinicians: primary care physicians, physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and oral health providers. Through the generous funding of TCHF, CPR will expand to meet the growing needs of communities statewide, and will collaborate with CCHN, the Primary Care Office (PCO) and other partners to increase provider placements, help providers navigate loan repayment options, enhance current retention strategies, and assist communities with strategic economic development to recruit and retain healthcare providers.