(Madison County, NY – Nov. 2014) National Rural Health Day was created as a way to showcase rural America; increase awareness of rural health-related issues; and promote the efforts of local Rural Health Networks and Councils, such as the Madison County Rural Health Council, Inc. a non-profit organization.
Approximately 62 million people – nearly one in five Americans – live in rural and frontier communities throughout the United States.
“These small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are wonderful places to live and work; they are places where neighbors know each other and work together,” said National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Director Teryl Eisinger. “The hospitals and providers serving these rural communities not only provide quality patient care, but they also help keep good jobs in rural America.”
These communities also face unique healthcare needs.
“Today more than ever, rural communities must tackle accessibility issues, a lack of healthcare providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens,” Eisinger said. “Meanwhile, rural hospitals are threatened with declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels that makes it challenging to serve their residents.”
The Rural Health Council of Madison County has been recently formed to foster relationships amongst providers, disseminate information ,provide access to technical assistance and work to improve access to and the quality of, health care for its rural citizens
“The Rural Health Council of Madison County is supporting rural citizens through programs such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program, assessing the use of and educating providers about Electronic Health Records and assessing the current status of transportation in Madison County to improve access to healthcare”, says Bonnie Slocum, Executive Director of the Madison County Rural Health Council.
To learn more about the Rural Health Council of Madison County visit their website www.mcruralhealthcouncil.org or call 315-726-4869.