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The Role of Health Services in a Rural Community

Health services take on meanings in a rural community that transcend the implications of urban health services. Hospitals and health service providers in cities appear visible and seemingly readily available which is not as evident within rural communities.

Health care provision has been changing rapidly over the past three decades. As Gerald Doeksen notes:

For example, in 1970, the average amount spent annually on each person for health care (per capita) was $341 and the typical family spent $175 per year on health care. By 1998, however, the annual per individual (per capita) expenditure for health care has risen to over $4,000, and the typical family spent nearly $1,400 for health insurance premiums, deductibles and co-pays (1999: p. 2).

As a whole, United States citizens pay more for health care now than three decades ago. In 1970 health care expenditures made up 7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By 1998, expenditures had risen to 13.5% of the GDP (Doeksen: 1999).

Because expenditures have risen in recent times, efforts have been made to reduce the amount of money spent on health care. These efforts have included the closure of hospitals or the reduction of services provided by them. Some hospitals have privatized or corporatized and combined their efforts to provide necessary services in a condensed manner. In urban locations this consolidation trend has not significantly reduced accessibility to health services. The same services remain in existence but at a reduced amount of locations. However, closure or consolidation of health services may cause people in rural areas to travel further distances for care. This can mean that people in rural areas cannot afford access to quality health care.

Access to health care in rural areas remains crucial. As Doeksen notes, "In rural areas there are proportionately more elderly, more children living in poverty, unemployment is higher and incomes are lower. Rural people report poorer health and more have chronic health conditions (1999: p. 3)." These ideas show both the reasons why consolidation happens, and why it is a problem for rural communities. While people of rural communities may not be able to afford to keep health services close and accessible, it is these demographics that necessitate adequate and close health care provision.

Better health care can mean better quality of life because it leads to the improved health of the residents within the county. The improved quality of life that comes from improved health care attracts businesses and people to a community. As Gerald Doeksen notes:

Good health and education services are imperative to industrial and business leaders as they select a community for location. Employees and participating management may offer strong resistance if they are asked to move into a community with substandard or inconveniently - located health services. Secondly, when a business or industry makes a location decision, it wants to ensure that the local labor force will be productive, and a key factor in productivity is good health. (1999: p. 7).

The same logic applies to the attraction of retirees to a community. Retirees may have specific health care needs presently and in the near future. The presence of quality health care can attract retirees to a community.

Serving the community thoroughly and with integrity can depend upon the provision of quality health services. In addition, health services may attract new residents and businesses and ensure the future of the county.

References
Doeksen, Gerald A., Schott, Val. 1999. "The Importance of the Health Care Sector on the Economy of Atoka County, Oklahoma." Rural Health Association of Oklahoma, Inc.

Updated: December 10, 2002

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