The solutions to healthcare in rural areas are a mix of financial, environmental, health, and social factors. These are referred to as the social determinants of health and include factors such as poverty, income, housing, education, access to medical care, healthcare literacy, community infrastructure, and more. Government officials and healthcare industry experts are working on a variety of different strategies to improve the quality of healthcare in rural communities.
One of the biggest issues that rural residents face is finding transportation to get to medical appointments. This is a major challenge, especially for those with chronic conditions who may require frequent visits to the hospital or doctor’s office. Rural patients are also often more reluctant to take time off from work in order to visit their doctors, leading them to miss vital treatments.
Another issue is the lack of qualified healthcare professionals in rural areas. Rural medical facilities have fewer employees and rely more on short-term travel nurses and doctors for coverage. This creates a strain on the already limited resources and leads to strained relationships between patient and healthcare providers.
Another solution is telehealth, which allows remote healthcare professionals to consult with patients over video chat or telephone. This helps alleviate the shortage of healthcare workers in rural areas and reduces travel costs for patients. However, telehealth is dependent on high-speed internet access, which can be an issue in rural areas. For more information about this and other strategies, check out RHIhub’s Transportation to Support Rural Healthcare topic guide. solutions to healthcare in rural areas
