The University of Illinois shall expand its focus on enrolling, training, and graduating primary care physicians, particularly family physicians. Both the undergraduate programs and the postgraduate Family Practice Residency Program may increase their service and training commitments in order to provide health care to additional sites in rural underserved areas. The College of Medicine shall by means of recruitment and by means of special undergraduate tracks and satellite residency programs, graduate family physicians to serve in rural underserved areas. The University shall further attempt to meet the needs of the residents of rural Illinois by establishing administrative entities to coordinate service, education and research in primary care and may work with communities, State agencies, other colleges and universities, private foundations, health care providers and other interested organizations on innovative strategies to respond to the challenges of producing more primary care physicians, particularly family physicians, for the rural underserved areas.

The University shall have the authority:

1. (1) to establish such clinical and educational centers as may be necessary to carry out the intent of this Act according to the following priorities:

   1. (A) preference for programs which are designed to enroll, educate and facilitate the graduation of primary care physicians particularly family physicians for rural underserved Illinois.
   2. (B) preference for the establishment of education and service programs both for graduate and undergraduate students in health manpower shortage areas in Illinois according to the needs of the residents.
   3. (C) preference for programs established in locations which exhibit potential for locating physicians in health manpower shortage areas.
   4. (D) preference for programs which require comprehensive primary care services, including emergency and obstetric care, which can most appropriately be serviced by family physicians.
   5. (E) preference for programs which require the health care team in the meeting of residents' medical needs.
   6. (F) preference for programs which involved networking with other agencies, organizations and institutions which have similar objectives.
   7. (G) preference for programs which are geographically situated in manpower underserved areas.
2. (2) to receive and disburse funds in accordance with the purpose stated in Section 2 of this Act.
3. (3) to enter into contracts or agreements with any agency or department of the State of Illinois or the United States to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 8053.2)

(Source: P.A. 87-1162.)