Help us Celebrate National Rural Health Day
It’s Not Just a Day, It’s a Movement.
#PowerOfRural
On this day of Rural Health recognition and awareness, we wanted to take some time to share a little bit more about rural health facilities, the trials and tribulations they face and the success stories they should be recognized for!
According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau 72% of the U.S. is considered rural and holds 15% of the total population or approximately 46.2 million people.
Back in elementary school you probably learned about the various types of communities in the U.S. and more than likely had to define rural on a quiz you took in 4th grade … as a refresher rural defined means “in, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town”.
People who have selected to settle in the country whether in a small town or farming community have the same health care needs as those living in urban and suburban communities; but the biggest challenges are access to health care, limited health care providers and lack of insurance coverage for their health care needs. On the other hand, rural health facilities are faced with a decline in reimbursement and lack of funding to support the residents they serve.
National Rural Health Day was established to celebrate the rural health community and bring attention to the health care challenges these communities are faced with and how these challenges can be addressed.
Did you know …
- *64.4% of the rural population lives east of the Mississippi
- *Nearly ½ of all people in rural areas are in the South Region
- *Maine and Vermont have the highest proportion of rural population (about 61%)
- *California has the lowest proportion of rural population (4.9%)
- *704 counties in the U.S. have 100% of their population in rural areas.
- *29 counties in the U.S. have 0% of their population in rural areas.
*These statistics were taken from the U.S. Census Bureau
Please show your support for the rural health community by thanking a rural health care provider in your area, using social media to bring attention to rural health and the challenges they face. Be sure to include the hashtag #PowerOfRural.
Additionally, please join Registry Partners in our salute to Rural Health Care Providers by reading the 2016 Community Stars Book (the 2017 book will be published on November 16, 2017) and commend these shining stars for the commitment they have made to rural health care.
In the coming days we will be highlighting some of our rural health partners via our blog to share some of the great work they are doing providing education and delivering health care within their communities.