November 21st: It’s not just a day, it’s a movement!
The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health celebrates the power of rural by honoring the community minded healthcare facilities that serve rural America.
Rural hospitals are one of the economic foundations of their communities. They are also the primary providers of care, but they struggle daily due to declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels that make it a challenge to serve their residents. We know this because we are part of it, working side by side as partners with rural health clinics and critical access hospitals.
National Rural Health Day was created as a way to acclaim and celebrate the efforts, contributions, and collaborations happening in rural communities and to address their challenges in accessing and delivering health care services.
Besides the beauty of rural communities, there are limitations that patients face when looking for medical attention, the distance alone is a big obstacle, but also a declining population, economic stagnation, shortages of physicians and other kind of health care professionals, a disproportionate number of elderly, poor and underinsured residents, and high rates of chronic illness. Today more than ever, rural communities must address accessibility issues and the increasing amount of healthcare facilities closing.
The few hospitals that remain open are having a hard time training and retaining quality surgeons and physicians. Many doctors either age out or transition from providing general surgical care to specialized care meaning returning to the cities that can pay the high salaries for that level of skilled surgical expertise.
Regardless of all the difficulties, several rural communities are devising innovative ways to address their challenges through partnerships, new business models, and technology. They are improving the health of their communities and providing patients with a high level of care.
Rural America is a great place for mission-minded health professionals to provide individualized care. For this reason, Smrtdo reinstates our commitment as partners to deliver the quality you deserve to achieve your goals.