Support Materials

Set against the backdrop of the physician shortage and opioid epidemic in rural America, The Providers follows three healthcare providers in northern New Mexico. They work at El Centro, a small group of safety-net clinics that offer care to all who walk through the doors. Amidst personal struggles that at times reflect those of their patients, the journeys of the providers unfold as they work to reach rural Americans who would otherwise be left out of the healthcare system. With intimate access, the documentary shows the transformative power of providers’ relationships with marginalized patients.

Designed for high school audiences, this Guide can be used to facilitate dialogue about, and deepen understanding of, the complex issues portrayed in The Providers — a documentary that follows three healthcare providers in northern New Mexico, set against the backdrop of the physician shortage and opioid epidemic in rural America. Amidst personal struggles that at times reflect those of their patients, the journeys of the providers unfold as they work to reach rural patients who would otherwise be left out of the healthcare system. With intimate access, the documentary shows the transformative power of providers’ relationships with marginalized patients.

Designed for high school audiences, this Guide can be used to facilitate dialogue about, and deepen understanding of, the complex issues portrayed in The Providers — a documentary that follows three healthcare providers in northern New Mexico, set against the backdrop of the physician shortage and opioid epidemic in rural America. Amidst personal struggles that at times reflect those of their patients, the journeys of the providers unfold as they work to reach rural patients who would otherwise be left out of the healthcare system. With intimate access, the documentary shows the transformative power of providers’ relationships with marginalized patients.

Meet Matt, Leslie, and Chris, three health care professionals who practice at El Centro Family Health — a group of clinics that serve rural northern New Mexico. This film module is adapted from the PBS film The Providers and is part of a curriculum collection.

Meet Tiffany, a high school student and member of Semillas de Salud health science club, and follow her as she considers healthcare career paths. See how the provider shortage steers Tiffany towards healthcare careers and understand her personal reasons for wanting to serve in her community, as well as some decisions to be made in deciding a healthcare career pathway. This film module is adapted from the PBS film The Providers and is part of a curriculum collection.

Learn about the concerns and methods of Matt Probst in recruiting and retaining healthcare workers in a rural community health setting. Matt discusses the rural brain drain, as well as the joys and challenges of practicing medicine in a community he loves. This film module is adapted from the PBS film The Providers and is part of a curriculum collection.

Listen as Dr. Leslie Hayes, a family physician, discusses her personal encounters with addiction and treating addiction in a primary care setting. Leslie talks about seeing her grandfather’s recovery from alcoholism and how it allowed her to understand addiction as a treatable disorder, and how treating opioid use disorder in a primary care setting has been rewarding and allowed her to see results. This film module is adapted from the PBS film The Providers and is part of a curriculum collection.

Gain insights into patient-centered care as Matt Probst talks with an elderly patient, Ignacio, about his life, work, and medical treatment. This film module is adapted from the PBS film The Providers and is part of a curriculum collection.

Listen as Chris Ruge, on a home visit, discusses opiod pain medication with a patient, and then, back at the clinic, discusses the challenges of self-care and work-life balance with Matt. These conversations offer insights into the stressors associated with, and resiliencies required for, working with underserved populations. This film module is adapted from the PBS film The Providers and is part of a curriculum collection.

This Guide is intended to assist facilitators to use the film as a starting point to address the healthcare crisis in rural communities across America. As our nation’s demographics become more urban, rural populations are aging, have less income, and are more likely to be sick than their urban counterparts. People in rural areas also tend to have poorer access to healthcare.  A screening of The Providers can provide an entry point for communities to discuss what it will take to address broad disparities in access to healthcare and in health outcomes across the United States and to explore opportunities within communities to grow and encourage a highly skilled and empathetic workforce to care for those most in need. Although the film takes place in a rural setting, the challenges and strategies it chronicles will be familiar to any healthcare provider in an underserved setting, such as low-income urban areas and facilities such as jails and prisons.