School of Nursing

Oregon Primary Care Transformation

Expanding Roles for Nurses on Primary Care Teams

Expanding the primary care nursing workforce across Oregon through recruitment and education of nursing students to work in the role of community-based, primary care nurses leading communities towards better health.

    The Oregon Primary Care Transformation Program (OPACT) is housed within the OHSU School of Nursing and recruits and educates nursing students about the role of registered nurses in community-based primary care (CBPC) and as essential members and leaders within primary care teams.

    To expand the primary care nursing workforce in Oregon, OPACT is built on the foundation of five innovative programs at the School of Nursing:

    1. Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE)
    2. OHSU Campus for Rural Health
    3. Oregon Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
    4. Interprofessional Care Access Network (I-CAN)
    5. OHSU Interprofessional Initiative

    The OPACT experience

    Students in the baccalaureate and accelerated baccalaureate are selected for participation in OPACT based on criteria that include:

    • Interest and aptitude for Community Based Primary Care
    • Intention to work in primary care following graduation
    • Participation in the OR AHEC Scholars program

    The OPACT Primary Care Scholars (PC Scholars) are assigned clinical placements with a partner Patient-Centered Primary Care Home for one to three terms in designated courses, including:

    • Population Health
    • Leadership  
    • Integrated Practicum (senior)

    OPACT PC Scholars receive assistance with tuition/fees for each term that they are placed in a primary care setting, encouraging engagement in CBPC over multiple terms. 

    Academic programs are supplemented by: 

    • Concept-based Learning Activities (CBLA’s)
    • Topic Seminars 
    • Guest speakers and preceptors 
    • Faculty development opportunities related to primary care nursing
    • Advisory Council of primary care nurses and experts 

    Funding Support

    This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under 1UK1HP31728-01-00, Nursing Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention – Registered Nurses in Primary Care Program as part of an award totaling $2,447,466 with no nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

    OPACT Accomplishments

    OPACT Progress Report
    Click to download OPACT Accomplishments (Spring 2019 - Spring 2022) Progress Report

    OPACT team

    Core Team
    Patty Barfield, Project Director, La Grande Campus 
    Karen Bean, Primary Care Practice Consultant, La Grande Campus
    Robin Claudson, Partnership Liaison, La Grande Campus
    Cynthia Painter-Press, Curriculum Advisor     
    Cynthia Taylor, Evaluator, Portland Campus
    Anne Taylor, Sr. Research Assistant, La Grande Campus

    Lead Faculty
    Ginger Keller, Rockwood, Portland Campus
    Erin Lemon, Portland, Portland Campus
    Teri Copley, SW Oregon, Ashland Campus
    Diana Siltanen, NE Oregon, La Grande Campus

    For more information about OPACT, contact Anne Taylor

    OPACT partners

    Eastern Oregon

    Baker County
    Saint Alphonsus Medical Center (Baker City)
    Baker County Public Health (Baker City)

    Grant County
    Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic (John Day)

    Malheur County
    Valley Family Healthcare (Ontario)     
    Snake River Pediatrics (Ontario)    

    Union County
    Grande Ronde Hospital, Women & Children’s Clinic (La Grande)
    Grande Ronde Hospital, Regional Clinic (Elgin)

    Umatilla County
    Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center (Pendleton)

    Wallowa County
    Winding Waters Medical Clinical (Enterprise)

    Portland

    Multnomah County
    OHSU Family Medicine at Richmond
    Wallace Medical Concern Rockwood Clinic (Gresham)

    Southern Oregon

    Jackson County
    Providence Medical Group (Medford)
    La Clinica

    Klamath County
    Cascade East Family Practice
    Klamath Health Partnership
    Open Door
    Sanford Children’s Clinic