(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced a major investment in training primary care doctors in Olympia, Washington. Murray has been a leader in the Senate in working to make the necessary investments to help Washington state communities train workers and create jobs in the health care sector.

“Despite the recession, our region’s innovative health care industry continues to grow,” said Senator Murray.  “That means one of the smartest job creation investments we can make is in expanding our health care workforce. This funding is going to train the primary care physicians we need to care for our seniors and families, and to make sure that everyone has access to quality care.”

As a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Murray played a critical role in ensuring the Health Care Reform bill made investments in creating jobs to fill our shortfall in doctors, nurses, and health care workers.

"We appreciate Senator Murray's leadership in working to improve access to primary care and ensure that Americans can get the care they need, when they need it, right in their community," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today.  "The investments we’re making today in increasing our primary care workforce will bring us closer to the day when every American has access to high-quality, coordinated care from a doctor, nurse, and health care team near their home, deeply invested in their health."

Providence St. Peter Hospital will receive $960,000 to increase the number of residents trained in family medicine.  They will use the 5-year grant to provide stipend support for new enrollees in 3-year primary care residency training programs. 

“We are grateful for the leadership that Senator Murray provides to our community,” said Medrice Coluccio, Chief Executive of Providence Southwest Washington Service Area “This support will make a positive difference in our Providence Family Practice Residency program.”

 “This funding will definitely support the need to increase our supply of primary care physicians,” said Dr. Kevin Haughton, Director of the Providence Family Medicine Residency Program. “We know that better access to primary care means better quality care and lower costs. But our supply of primary care physicians is not adequate to meet the needs as baby boomers age and need more health care. This kind of support is essential if we are going to improve that state of health care both here and throughout the country.”