Question

• Identify common vulnerabilities and healthcare issues in the rural population.
• Describe challenges of patient care from a perspective of the patient, provider, and the health system.
• Discuss strategies to improve health care outcomes in the rural setting

Answer 1

Rural communities have long struggled to maintain access to quality health care services. The problems faced by rural hospitals the rural people often lack access to basic health care services

A variety of elements contribute to these problems in rural areas, including a declining population, economic stagnation, shortages of physicians and other health care professionals, a disproportionate number of elderly, poor, and underinsured residents, and high rates of chronic illness.

From the perspective of patient there are many challenges like cost of health care , fear , superstitious beliefs, transportation problems , problems of communication

From the perspective of provider there are challenges like though the rural population is less compared to urban the ratio between the number of health care providers and procurer is more

There are other challenges for provider like transportation, less income , shortage of technology to provide better treatment

From the perspective of health care system the major problem is economical like the maintenance of the hospital, salaries for health providers, less population at a particular area

Some strategies to improve health outcomes are

Community health workers (SE)
Engage professional or lay health workers to provide education, referral and follow-up, case management, home visiting, etc. for those at high risk for poor health outcomes

Federally qualified health centers (SS)
Increase support for non-profit health care organizations that receive federal funding and deliver comprehensive care to uninsured, underinsured, and vulnerable patients regardless of ability to pay

Higher education financial incentives for health professionals serving underserved areas (SE)
Expand incentives such as scholarships and loans with service requirements and loan repayment or forgiveness programs for health care providers who practice in rural or other underserved areas

Rural training in medical education (SS)
Expand medical school training and learning experiences focused on the skills necessary to practice successfully in rural areas

School dental programs (SS)
Provide sealants, fluoride treatment, screening, and other basic dental care on school grounds via partnerships with dental professionals

Telemedicine (SS)
Deliver consultative, diagnostic, and treatment services remotely for patients who live in areas with limited access to care or would benefit from frequent monitoring; also called telehealth

Telemental health services (SE)
Provide mental health care services (e.g., psychotherapy or counseling) via telephone or videoconference