Why is rural health important

Specialty and Primary Care Close-to-Home Rural hospitals have the opportunity to identify the unique needs of the local community and use this knowledge to partner with urban health systems and regional medical centers to make those special services available.

For example, in our River Parish community, dozens of patients must undergo weekly wound care. We partner to offer this service which is often needed by those who are extremely sick or incapacitated. Without this service in our rural community, these patients would have to travel miles and miles every single week.

We know their birthdays, their family members by name ; we have celebrated births and deaths and worked together on community events. About Rural Health. Minus Related Pages. Why are rural Americans at greater risk for poor health outcomes? What can be done to improve the health of rural Americans? For example, healthcare providers in rural areas can: Screen patients for high blood pressure and make blood pressure control a quality improvement goal.

High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Increase cancer prevention and early detection. Rural healthcare providers should participate in the state-level comprehensive control coalitions. Comprehensive cancer control programs focus on cancer prevention, education, screening, access to care, support for cancer survivors, and overall good health.

Encourage physical activity and healthy eating to reduce obesity. Obesity has been linked to a variety of serious chronic illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

Promote smoking cessation. Principles and guidelines were developed to assist educational institutions, health professional organizations, health services agencies and communities on implementing the proposed activities. This article has outlined the major challenges facing rural health around the world, reviewed the problems experienced with primary health care and Health for All programmes, highlighted the pivotal role of family practice, described the leadership provided by WONCA in addressing rural health issues at the international level, and presented the growing collaborative WONCA—WHO Rural Health Initiative.

Boulle A. Rural health care and rural poverty—inextricably linked—policy in progress. HST Up-Date ; 28 : 6 —7. World Health Organization. Global Forum for Health Research. Switzerland: WHO; Hegney D. Agricultural occupational health and safety; farming families presenting a challenge to wellness. Aust J Rural Health ; 1 : 27 — Fragar L. Agricultural health and safety in Australia. Aust J Rural Health ; 4 : — Dempsey K. Melbourne: Oxford University Press; The health service needs of small rural communities.

Aust J Rural Health ; 2 : 7 — Lawrence G, Williams CJ. The dynamics of decline: implications for social welfare delivery in rural Australia.

Regional Victoria: Why the Bush is Hurting. Policy on Training for Rural Practice. WHO: Copenhagen; Justice J. Soc Sci Med ; 25 : — Public health in developing countries. Lancet ; : — Improving skills and utilization of community health. Volunteers in Nepal. Soc Sci Med ; 40 : — General practice—what is it? Med J Aust ; : — Carlough MC. Family practice in Nepal: an international perspective. Fam Med ; 30 : — Geneva: WHO; Developing social capital: community participation in rural health services.

Policy on Rural Practice and Rural Health. Adopted at the 2nd World Rural Health Congress. Durban, South Africa; A Working Paper. Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Sign In or Create an Account. Sign In. Advanced Search. Search Menu. Article Navigation. Close mobile search navigation Article Navigation.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare PHE Canberra: AIHW. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Get citations as an Endnote file : Endnote. PDF 1. On average, Australians living in rural and remote areas have shorter lives, higher levels of disease and injury and poorer access to and use of health services, compared with people living in metropolitan areas.

Poorer health outcomes in rural and remote areas may be due to multiple factors including lifestyle differences and a level of disadvantage related to education and employment opportunities, as well as access to health services.

In , the total disease burden rate in Remote and very remote areas was 1. In —, life expectancy for both males and females decreased as remoteness increased. In —18, potentially preventable hospitalisation rates in Very remote areas were 2. In , people in Remote areas were more likely to report barriers accessing GPs and specialists than Major cities.