Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115426

Howard J. Eng, RPh, MS, DrPH¹, Julie A. Jacobs, MS¹, and Jennifer Peashock, BA². (1) Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Southwest Border Rural Health Research Center, Rural Health Office, 2501 E. Elm Street, Tucson, AZ 85716, (520) 626-7946 ext. 237, aeng@ahsc.arizona.edu, (2) Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health University of Arizona, Arizona State Office of Rural Health Program, Rural Health Office, 2501 E. Elm Street, Tucson, AZ 85716

After two years of work, the Arizona Rural Health Plan 2005-2007 was completed in December 2004. The Plan provides a road map on how to strengthen the rural health infrastructure in the state as well as how to enhance access to health services by rural residents. It reflects Arizona's unique rural, cultural, and geographic characteristics, including 21 federally recognized America Indian tribes and the state's 350-mile wide contiguous border with Mexico. The Arizona Rural Health Plan was developed through a statewide effort that included an advisory committee representing rural health experts, health providers, and policy makers. The objectives and strategies identified within are intended to guide actions by policy makers, multiple agencies, health providers, and community-based organizations throughout the State. By selecting among the objectives, agencies and organizations can strategically plan to 1) modify current health policies and develop new ones, 2) develop rural health planning and program development, and 3) measure and monitor change within their chosen focus areas.

There were three phases in the development of the Arizona Rural Health Plan: (1) collection of background information that included a statewide rural health assessment and a two-phase Delphi Study, (2) selection of the three primary rural health areas that will be addressed in the Plan, and (3) development of the focus areas, objectives, and strategies that can be implemented during the next three years. The Southwest Border Rural Health Research Center, Rural Health Office, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health carried out each of the three phases of the Plan.

The three rural health areas selected as the primary focus of the Arizona Rural Health Plan are: (1) Accessibility – ability to obtain needed health services, (2) Availability – supply of health resources and services to meet the needs of the individual or community, and (3) Preventative Services – health programs that focus on the prevention of illnesses. The Plan addresses 14 sub-focus areas, 39 specific measurable objectives, and strategies that can be used to accomplish each objective.

The Southwest Border Rural Health Research Center will monitor the progress of the Arizona Rural Health Plan 3-year targets (objectives). The preliminary results of the first year implementation of the Plan will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• The audience will gain an understanding of how to develop a State Rural Health Plan.
• The audience will learn how a State Rural Health Plan is being implemented.

Keywords: Rural Health, Planning

Related Web page: www.rho.arizona.edu/sbrhrc

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation