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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

#RuralHealthChat: Access to Healthcare in Rural Communities

Date: Thursday, November 15, 2018
Duration: approximately 60 minutes

Access to healthcare is important for overall health and wellness, yet many rural residents face barriers to accessing a variety of healthcare services, including primary care, inpatient services, dental care, behavioral healthcare, emergency care, and public health services. Access is also important for disease prevention, detection and treatment of illness, chronic disease management, quality of life, and increasing life expectancy. Barriers to healthcare access may be related to distance, financial means, health insurance status, provider shortages, health literacy, and more.

Co-Host:

  • National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) – @NOSORH

Special Guests:

  • Donna Newchurch, Executive Director, Louisiana Rural Ambulance Alliance – @LAAmbulance
  • Allen J. Smart. MA, MPH. Principal, PhilanthropywoRx, and Project Director, Campbell University - @allensmart6
  • John Supplitt, Senior Director, American Hospital Association, Section for Small or Rural Hospitals - @jsupplitt
  • Julie K. Wood, MD, MPH, FAAFP, AAFP Senior Vice President, Health of the Public and Interprofessional Activities, American Academy of Family Physicians – @JulieKWoodMD
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – @BreatheBetter
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture – @USDA_NIFA
  • National Rural Health Association – @NRHA_Advocacy
  • NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis – @WalshCenter
  • University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center – @UMNRHRC

We used the hashtag #RuralHealthChat to tweet with expert co-hosts and special guests about healthcare access in rural areas. If you’d like to see our conversation or access the many resources shared, they are all available below, via Listly.