OREGON, USA — Nov. 20 is National Rural Health Day. It's a dedicated time to recognize the importance of supporting healthcare in rural communities and raise awareness about the challenges providers face in areas outside metropolitan areas.

Brenda Johnson, CEO of La Clinica in Southern Oregon, says access to care is one of their biggest issues. Because people are spread out, they often have to travel farther distances to get care. That extra effort, may mean they get less care or put it off.

“What can happen is because access is such a challenge, people receive less care and when they do, their chronic conditions may be more evident. Where if they had earlier access, we could have been more preventative,” said Johnson.

Another issue in rural communities is attracting and retaining provi

See Full Page