Ashley Gardner

Saginaw Valley State University

Tremendously Diverse Lifestyle & Culture

Distinct Challenges & Needs

Community Collaboration

Ambiguous definition

“The populations served are different in every rural community. So is the way they rural patients define health and the way they receive care”

-Deana Molinari

Cons “Blurring of relationships” Fewer Resources Lower Pay Lateral rather than

Administrative Growth Geography Fewer insurance options Higher costs of care

Pros Variety

Autonomy

“Extended Family”

Job Satisfaction

Higher Poverty Rates

7.5 million rural residents live below poverty line

Almost 76% of U.S. counties are rural

$644/pp more spent on urban citizens

Political activity is low

Funding appears to play significant role

Creative, Innovative, Resourceful

Return on Investment

Healthcare Access

Access Dimensions

Need a Voice

Retention & Recruitment play significant role in access issues

Research is unclear

Important Factors for Retention:

Personal & Professional Support

Education

Regulation & Safety

Financial Compensation

No “one-size-fits-all” solution

Increase Access, Reduce Costs, Improve Quality

WHO Suggestions

828 Federal programs initiated directed at assisting rural areas (2002)

Affordable Care Act

Housing & Community Development Programs

Rural Housing Service (RHS)

Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS)

Distance learning & Telemedicine Grants & Loans

Community Access Program (CAP)

Rural Health Outreach Program

Office of Rural health Policy (ORHP)

Bureau of Health Resources Development

The Foundation Center Cooperating Collection Network

General Fund Raising Resources

Improvement in public health is closely related with political participation

Healthcare providers are called to be the voice for these communities

Increase involvement in policy-making, seek available funding, utilize retention strategies to change the story of rural healthcare

References

Beal, E. (2012). Pros and cons of rural nursing. Retrieved from http://career-news.healthcallings.com/2012/09/19/pros-and-cons-of-rural-nursing/.

Buchan, J., Couper, I. D., Tangcharoensathien, V., Thepannya, K., Jaskiewicz, W., Perfilieva, G., & Colea, C. (2013). Early implementation of WHO recommendations for the retention of health workers in remote and rural areas. Policy & Practice, 91, 834-840. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.13.119008.

Buykx, P., Humphreys, J., Wakerman, J., & Pashen, D. (2010). Systematic review of effective retention incentives for health workers in rural and remote areas: Towards evidence-based policy. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 18, 102-109. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2010.01139.x.

Fluharty, C. W. (2002). Refrain or reality: A United States rural policy? Implications for rural health care. The Journal of Legal Medicine, 23, 57-72.

Harris, J. K., & Mueller, N. L. (2013). Policy activity and policy adoption in rural, suburban, and urban local health departments. Journal of Public Health Management Practice, 19(2), E1-E8. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0b013e318252ee8c.

Health and Human Services. (2013). The affordable care act-What it means for rural America. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/factsheets/2013/09/rural09202013.html.

Morgan, A. (2012). The rural health care tundra. In D. J. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy & politics in nursing and health care (pp.200-205). St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.

National Agricultural Library. (2013). Capital assistance funding: A rural health resource guide. Retrieved from http://pubs.nal.usda.gov/sites/pubs.nal.usda.gov/files/capital_assistance.html.

Russell, D. J., Humphreys, J. S., Ward, B., Chisholm, M., Buykx, P., McGrail, M., & Wakerman, J. (2013). Helping policy-makers address rural health access problems. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, 21, 61-71.

**All pictures found via google image search