Rural Health Day

Kansans Celebrating the Power of Rural Graphic

Rural communities are wonderful places to live, which is why nearly one in three Kansans call them home. On November 17, Kansas will join other states in celebrating the first-ever National Rural Health Day. This is an opportunity to celebrate the Power of Rural by honoring the selfless, community-minded, can-do spirit that prevails in rural America.

–     Rural communities are a wonderful place to live and work
–     Being a rural healthcare provider offers tremendous opportunities
–     Health care in rural America is unique
–     Surprising things are happening in Rural America

Join Us in the Celebration!

What is National Rural Health Day?

NOSORH, State Offices of Rural Health and our partners have set aside November 17, 2011, to showcase Rural America; increase awareness of the unique healthcare issues facing rural communities; and highlight the efforts of State Offices of Rural Health and others to address those issues.

Rural communities possess a strong sense of community where everyone has a voice – people know each other, listen to/respect each other and work together to benefit the community.
Rural America has a rich history of creativity and ingenuity.
Rural communities provide America with a wealth of worthwhile products and services – farm commodities, clean energy, and tourism/recreation. They are wonderful places to start a small business and test your “entrepreneurial spirit.”
Health care, like so many other things in rural America, focuses on relationships – healthcare providers get to know the people they care for.
Ambulatory and emergency medical services are especially critical in rural America, where 20 percent of the nation’s population lives but nearly 60 percent of all trauma deaths occur.
Rural hospitals are sources of innovation and resourcefulness that are able to reach beyond geographical boundaries and deliver quality care. They are also typically the economic foundation of their communities – every dollar spent on rural hospitals generates about $2.20 for the local economy.
Rural health care is constantly evolving; it continues to tackle accessibility and health workforce issues while meeting the unique needs of aging and underinsured citizens.
Healthcare needs can’t be addressed through a “one size fits all” approach – because each community is different, programs and policies must be flexible enough to enable rural communities to identify and address the unique needs of their residents.

Proclamation by the Governor

Ideas for Celebrating Rural Health Day Locally

Spread the Word to Your Community
Ideas for Schools – Schools Postcard 1, Schools Postcard 2
Ideas for Health Providers – Providers Postcard 1, Providers Postcard 2
Ideas for Anyone – Postcard 1, Postcard 2

Rural Health Day Posters and Stickers
Join the Celebration Poster (formatted for letter size)
National Rural Health Day Logo Stickers (formatted for Avery 5160 labels)
Kansas Rural Health Day Logo Stickers (formatted for Avery 5294 labels)

From the Desk of Dr. Moser

"Power of Rural Health" Video

Sharing Your Local Rural Health Story

Clara Barton Hospital – Pink Glove Contest
With the help of more than 120 hospital staff members and the video production students at USD 431, Clara Barton Hospital (Hoisington, KS) finishes 25th in the National Pink Glove Video Contest to raise the public’s awareness about breast cancer.

Rural Health Systems Manager Received National Award
Greeley County Health Services Project Director, Chrysanne Grund, receives the 2011 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leader Award, honoring exceptional men and women who have overcome significant obstacles to tackle some of the most challenging health and health care problems facing their communities.

New Rural Medical School – Salina KS
Salina, KS became home this summer to a new medical school campus, opened to provide a novel solution to Kansas’ persistent lack of rural physicians.

Greensburg/Kiowa County Memorial Hospital
Destroyed in a tornado, Kiowa County Hospital designed and built a first-of-its kind green hospital, while still meeting functional and safety requirements.

Larned, KS/Pawnee Valley Hospital (36mb pdf)
Larned, KS wouldn’t give up their hospital without a fight when faced with its closure and the loss of its all-important critical access license.

WePAC Alliance – Hoops for Hope
Five SW Kansas communities collaborate on a Hoops for Hope weekend to raise awareness and money for women’s preventive cancer screenings.

Patient Safety Efforts in SW Kansas
Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, KS, wins Kansas Foundation for Medical Care’s coveted “Film of the Year” in 2011 contest to promote patient safety in hospitals.

Electronic Health Record adoption in Plainville, KS
Plainville, KS family practice physician, Dr. Jen Brull, has become the first doctor to be featured as an early adopter of electronic health records.

Neosho County Meltdown
Faced with being in Kansas bottom 25% for overall health, Neosho County Health Department launches the 2011 Meltdown to help residents change lifestyles.

Greeley County – Rural Health Information Technology Network Development Grant
Greeley County Health Services was one of forty health entities across the United States to receive federally grant to enable the hospital and community based partners to create a comprehensive electronic network for health information exchange.

Thomas County Coalition
The Thomas County Health Department and public health partners launch a community campaign to make Colby, KS the Most Walkable Community in Kansas.

Lifestyle Choices Increased Through Rural Health Monitoring
(Coffeyville, KS)
How Ron and Mary Douglas of Coffeyville, in rural southeast Kansas, were able to keep living in their own home despite their chronic illnesses, through the use of a home monitoring system to track their vital signs on a daily basis.

Health Technology Can Help Save Lives in Rural Kansas
(Sharon Springs, KS)
When Jerice Elmore was diagnosed with ovarian cancer she knew that she would need treatment. What she didn’t know was how she was going to get all the expert care she needed while living in her small Kansas community of Sharon Springs.

To send us your rural health story – e-mail the Office of Rural Health