Fairfield Memorial Hospital will join the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and other state/national rural stakeholders in celebrating National Rural Health Day on Thursday, November 17, 2015.
NOSORH created National Rural Health Day as a way to showcase rural America; increase awareness of rural health-related issues; and promote the efforts of NOSORH, State Offices of Rural Health and others in addressing those issues.
Rural communities are wonderful places to live and work, which is why nearly 62 million people – nearly one in five Americans – call them home. These small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are places where neighbors know each other, listen to each other, respect each other and work together to benefit the greater good. They are also some of the best places to start a business and test your “entrepreneurial spirit.” These communities provide the rest of the country with a wealth of services and commodities, and they are the economic engine that has helped the United State become the world economic power it is today.
These rural communities also have unique healthcare needs. Today more than ever, rural communities must address accessibility issues, a lack of healthcare providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens. And rural hospitals – which are often the economic foundation of their communities in addition to being the primary providers of care – struggle daily as declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels make it challenging to serve their residents.
That is why the National Organization of State Offices of Rural sets aside the third Thursday of every November – November 17th, 2016 – to celebrate National Rural Health Day. First and foremost, National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America. But it also gives us a chance to bring to light the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face – and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address those challenges.
In Illinois for example, Fairfield Memorial Hospital supports rural citizens through services including primary care services to many specialty services including Diabetes Education, Senior Life Solutions, Pain Center, Urgent Care, Podiatry, Oncology, Cardiology, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Orthopaedics, Surgical Services, Urology, Balance Recovery Program, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Dialysis, Behavioral Therapy, Cardiopulmonary, Skilled Nursing, and much more. For a rural hospital to be
providing this many specialty services, it speaks loudly of their strength. The number of services that FMH delivers to its community is astounding!
So, join Fairfield Memorial Hospital in celebrating National Rural Health Day by doing something “healthy” – eat more vegetables, bike instead of drive to work, get your blood pressure or cholesterol checked, attend a yoga class or wellness event, etc., and invite a friend to join you. It may be your first step toward a healthier future!
Additional information about National Rural Health Day can be found on the Web at www.celebratepowerofrural.org. To learn more about NOSORH, visit www.nosorh.org; to learn more about Fairfield Memorial Hospital, visit www.fairfieldmemorial.org.
