John, this is a sight we do not want to see, yet it's become the reality for many Americans living in rural areas. |
The lack of access to healthcare and decline of rural hospitals across our country has been staggering.
Rural hospitals are integral parts of the community and can often serve as one of the only places for emergency care, and even house medical practices not specializing in emergencies. Over the last decade more than 140 rural hospitals have closed nationwide, with the pandemic exacerbating an already strained healthcare system. According to the American Hospital Association, “[by the year] 2020, about half of rural community hospitals did not provide obstetrics care.”
With less funding and less room for patients, this also creates a vacuum in the local economy as physicians and practitioners are leaving rural areas for more stable jobs in the medical field. According to NPR, “As of December 2018, there were more than 7,000 areas in the U.S. with health professional shortages, nearly 60 percent of which were in rural areas.”
Access to healthcare in rural places is about more than being able to make it to a doctor when someone is ill. It’s a crucial part of the community and local economy.
With ROCC, our hope is to bring awareness to these issues that impact these areas and bring forward solutions in organizing, training, and messaging unique to each community facing these trials. We must ensure resources are allocated to these areas and that candidates in local and state government are aware of the issues that their constituents face. John - consider chipping in your support of the Rural Outreach Coordinated Campaign to empower organizers to make change community-by-community across rural America!
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Reply to this e-mail with any questions or comments you may have about how we are empowering local leaders and mobilizing grassroots efforts to create positive change! Stay Involved!
- ROCC |
