Program Aims to Improve Palliative Care in Rural Communities

By: Lisa Foust Prater

Finding quality, nearby healthcare is a real challenge for rural Americans. According to the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, only 9% of all physicians, 10% of psychologists and psychiatrists, and 12% of all pharmacists practice in rural communities. There are only half as many specialists and dentists per 100,000 residents in rural areas compared with urban areas.

Another type of medical care that is hard to come by in rural America is palliative care, which helps people with serious illnesses and their caregivers. Andrew Nelson, host of the Exploring Rural Health podcast from the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub), which is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, addressed this issue in a recent episode.