Primary Care Medics

Expanding the Primary Care Workforce in Rural Pennsylvania and Beyond

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Many rural Pennsylvania clinics and hospitals are closing or cutting back services. There aren’t enough health care providers. And patients face growing burdens of chronic and mental health conditions.

A man uses a stethoscope on a woman on a couch inside a home

The Solution

The Primary Care Medic program trains and certifies Primary Care Medics to expand access to primary care and bring more care to rural areas.

They are similar to a primary care EMT or an Army medic. Medics will be certified health care providers, trained to deliver primary and urgent care in a variety of locations. Working under the supervision of licensed primary care doctors, they will greatly expand access to primary care in rural and underserved areas.

A woman wearing medical scrubs and a stethoscope and holding a clipboard gestures while talking to a man

What We Are Building

We are building the Primary Care Medics program from the ground up. We’re defining exactly what care they will provide and creating the training program to prepare them. We’re also building the tools that will connect them to supervising doctors.

The curriculum will define the Medic scope of practice, design a secure telehealth platform, and produce an implementation toolkit for the apprenticeship model.

A woman in medical scrubs checks the shoulder of an older man who is sitting in his kitchen

Who Can Be a Medic?

Medic training will be a gateway to health care careers for:

Rural young adults
Transitioning military medics
Emergency medical technicians
Medical assistants
Community health workers

Community Impact

Rural Pennsylvania will benefit from Primary Care Medics – delivering primary and preventive care close to home for the communities that need it most.

Information for Medical Practices

Rural primary care practices are stretched thin. Primary Care Medics will be a certified, supervised clinical role designed to extend your team’s reach without adding administrative burden or requiring you to hire another licensed provider.

A man with a stethoscope around his neck shows another man something on a tablet in an outdoor setting

Implementation and Impact

Medics will work under the license of a supervising physician or advanced practitioner. Training will be free to Medic candidates and is apprenticeship-based, with coursework provided by Penn State. A structured implementation guide will define documentation, supervision protocols and any needed partnership agreements.

Practice impact:

Improved same-day patient access
Reduced readmissions with potential gains in value-based revenue
Fewer avoidable ED visits
Stronger panel continuity

Woman with a stethoscope and holding a tablet stands in a rural, farm setting

What Medics Will Do

Deliver guideline-based primary and preventive care under clinician supervision
Manage chronic disease care, including diabetes and hypertension
Address acute and urgent primary care needs, including behavioral health, oral health and maternity care
Work from physician-endorsed standing orders with computer-assisted decision support and telehealth connection back to you
Serve across a range of settings, including sites distant from the supervising clinician

Becoming a Primary Care Medic

Studying in an allied health program and want a meaningful career close to home? Primary Care Medic training will offer a direct path into primary care practice without the cost or time of a four-year degree.

A man with a stethoscope around his neck smiles and holds a tablet while talking to an older woman

What You'll Learn

Primary and preventive care for common conditions
How to manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure
Training in basic behavioral health, oral health and maternity care

Your Path

Training for a certificate
On-the-job apprenticeship with Penn State coursework and training, free to Medic candidates
Clear responsibilities
A career that will put you at the center of solving one of rural Pennsylvania’s most pressing problems

A man with a stethoscope and ID badge around his neck holds a device while talking to a woman in her home

What the Work Will Look Like

Medics will work as part of a primary care team. They’ll use clinical protocols and computer support, under the supervision of a licensed doctor. They’ll see patients and manage follow-up care.

Being a Medic is a chance to serve the community with real clinical responsibility.