Online Program

Oral

Residents of rural jurisdictions are more likely to have worse health status across a number of health indicators, and less access to health care services -- when analyzing health data across an urban to rural continuum, where you live clearly affects your health and well-being. The proposed session will feature three speakers from HRSA-funded Rural Health Research Centers, highlighting disparities in rural health status, and strategies, tools and resources needed to address unique factors that may contribute to disparities in rural communities. The Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center (RHRPRC) has recently completed an update to a 2001 CDC report on rural disparities. New data show continued disparity in rural and urban health status across numerous conditions and indicators, with many headed in the wrong direction. In addition to providing up-to-date information on rural health status, the chartbook provides baseline rural health data for future evaluation of the impacts of the Affordable Care Act on rural populations. The South Carolina Rural Health Research Center (SCHRHC) focuses on exploring the intersection of race, ethnicity and geography, and will present information demonstrating the dual disparity effect – while many disparities are seen based on geography alone, rural minority populations tend to experience even greater disparity. Finally, the Maine Rural Health Research Center (MRHRC) has studied rural mental health and substance abuse issues and will share findings demonstrating disparities in both mental health and substance abuse, as well as inequities related to access to treatment services. Following the three presentations, the moderator will lead a discussion on rural assets that can be leveraged, strategies to address rural disparities, and anticipated implications of Affordable Care Act implementation.

Session Objectives: -List 5 health status indicators where rural populations experience disparities in health status. -Describe 3 health status indicators where race, ethnicity and geography combine to create dual disparities. -Describe 3 mental health and/or substance abuse disparities experienced by rural residents.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)