Rural healthcare solutions must address many of the unique economic and health-related factors that make it difficult for residents to access needed care. Some of these solutions include expanding rural telehealth services, providing incentives to lure doctors to rural communities, and establishing community-based programs that promote health maintenance and disease prevention.
HELPING PATIENTS ACCESS CRITICAL SERVICES
Patients in rural areas have to travel much farther for access to subspecialist healthcare and other services, and may be reluctant to take time off from work due to the need to care for livestock or crops. These barriers can result in delayed or non-requested treatment, and worsening conditions.
Boosting Health Literacy
Residents in rural communities are more likely to have low levels of health literacy, and are less likely to be aware of the importance of preventive healthcare such as regular screenings, vaccinations, and dietary changes to reduce risk for chronic diseases. This explains why it is important to establish strategies that support and promote healthcare literacy in rural communities.
INCENTIVES TO ATTRACTE PHYSICIAN STAFF
To attract physicians to rural areas, it is important to offer competitive compensation packages including signing bonuses, relocation allowances and student loan forgiveness. Communities can also seek to build relationships with urban healthcare providers to bring specialized and expansive healthcare services into rural communities. rural healthcare solutions
