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:
- Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE)
- OHSU Campus for Rural Health
- Oregon Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
- Interprofessional Care Access Network (I-CAN)
- 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 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