I.  Leaving the Community Site (Changing Jobs)

The NHSC LRP contract does not specify a particular community site.  However, the NHSC expects that a participant will fulfill his or her service commitment at the initial placement site.   A clinician who is not committed to remaining at the initial site for the duration of the two-year NHSC LRP contract should not apply for an NHSC LRP award.  Transfers are rare, and will only be approved in limited circumstances.

Should participants be unable to complete their agreed upon obligations at their initial NHSC community sites, they must notify NHSC immediately in writing, and describe the problems they are experiencing.  Participants should not leave their initial service sites without the prior written approval of the NHSC.  If the clinician leaves the initial service site without advance approval from the NHSC, he or she may be placed in default.

Before approving a transfer, the NHSC will contact the initial site regarding the need for a transfer.   Participants who are unable to complete service at their initial sites through no fault of their own may be transferred to another NHSC site to complete their service obligation.  The transfer site will be based on the needs of the NHSC.  Final approval of all transfers rests with the NHSC, and priority will be to sites of equal or greater need (i.e., equal or greater HPSA score) than the original site.  A participant who does not accept a transfer assignment may be placed in default of his or her NHSC LRP contract.  Participants who voluntarily resign from their sites without prior approval of the NHSC or are terminated by their sites for cause may not receive a transfer to another site and may be placed in default.

If a site asks a participant to work at a satellite clinic which is not listed on his or her  PPO or PPA Agreement, the participant should immediately notify the NHSC.  Although a site may need to reassign its staff to address needs within the organization, the site should not reassign NHSC clinicians to other satellite sites without prior approval from the NHSC. The NHSC must first assure that each new site is an eligible NHSC site.  If the assignment to the satellite clinic is approved by the NHSC, the participant will receive an amended PPA or be asked to sign an amended PPO Agreement that reflects the additional/new approved site.

If an LRP awardee is not employed at the site(s) indicated in the LRP application at the time of receipt of the LRP award, the LRP awardee must notify the NHSC immediately.  Failure to do so may result in being placed in default.

next page: Breaching the NHSC LRP Contract