Healthcare Issues In Rural America

Healthcare issues in rural communities in America have been a major concern. For example, there are over 59 million people living in rural communities that are faced with economic issues, poor health, and a lack of access to healthcare (Choi, 2012). More than 17 percent of rural residents are older than 65 and per capita, the income in rural communities is much lower compared to other parts of the country (Choi, 2012). Also, with the rise in demographic changes, rural communities have increasingly become more diverse with different racial and ethnicities (Choi, 2012). Residents in rural communities are commonly faced with illness relating to hypertension, heart disease, and strokes, and as a result, the rural south has obtained the nickname

With the great need of medical services, there is a limited of healthcare services and professional to provide the necessary care. Many of the rural hospitals are relatively small and are limited to the types of specialty services they provide (Choi, 2012). Also, the medical workforce is declining in rural communities, many doctors have retired and retaining and recruiting of medical professionals has been a challenge (Choi, 2012). In addition, another issue most rural residents are faced with is transportation. Many residents live greater than 30 miles away from the nearest healthcare facility and 60 or more miles away from specialty care facilities (Choi, 2012). Some residents do not have their own transportation. Often, needed medical care is delayed due to these

It is predicted that by 2019, more than 32 million rural residents will be insured (Choi, 2012). With this increase, it will influence management and leadership of health services organizations in rural communities to provide additional needed health services and to increase the declining healthcare professional population at their facilities (Choi, 2012). For example, management and leadership of health services organizations can make healthcare more accessible and improve wellness by providing more electronic telecommunication services like telehealth, televideo, and telemedicine to residents in rural communities. In addition, management and leadership of health services organizations can also work with the Federal Qualified Health Centers in rural communities to help residents with low-income to pay for healthcare expenses and obtain the needed transportation to and from their healthcare