National Rural Health Day 2019

11/21/2019 by Sam Hipolito

Every year the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) recognizes the third Thursday in November as National Rural Health Day. Today, November 21, 2019 we join in to celebrate rural communities and the providers that care for them.

According to the NOSORH, 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. This day 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.

Our commitment to rural communities

For years North Country HealthCare has made it our goal to ensure no one in rural northern Arizona is far from quality healthcare. That is why we are proud to serve 13 communities across northern Arizona. Our primary care offices are strategically located in medically underserved rural areas along the I-40 corridor.

As a primary care provider, North Country HealthCare employs a team of highly-qualified caregivers who are passionate about addressing the unique health challenges of Arizona’s rural population. Because many of our primary care providers grew up or received their training in the communities they serve, their roots have grown deep.

Raising up champions of rural healthcare

North Country HealthCare and Northern Arizona Area Health Education Center (NAHEC) have established a thriving partnership with the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health Rural Health Professions Program (RHPP) to connect public health students to the communities in which North Country HealthCare is already embedded.

The program allows students to collaborate with community partners like North Country HealthCare to learn to address real world rural health issues. Students are equipped to begin building health equity, work for social justice and improve health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health.

In fiscal year 19 NAHEC facilitated field experiences for students and resident trainees in medicine (allopathic, osteopathic); registered nurse; family nurse practitioner; undergraduate & doctorate nursing; pharmacy; medical assistant; dental hygiene; MPH; physician assistant; behavioral health; psychology; social work and others.

NAHEC hosted RHPP students from the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine Tucson & Phoenix, Nursing & Pharmacy; and ASU College of Nursing in Flagstaff, Williams, Kingman and Show Low sites.

NAHEC making a difference

Established in 1987, NAHEC is part of the national and state AHEC system and serves Apache, Coconino, Navajo, and a portion of Yavapai Counties.

NAHEC addresses the shortage and maldistribution of healthcare professionals by:

• Providing meaningful community-based clinical training experiences for health professions students and residents;
• Educating the current and future rural primary care workforce;
• Recruiting students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds into health careers;
• Facilitating healthcare research and informatics that translates to underserved communities;
• Connecting communities to better care through telemedicine, interprofessional, and population health initiatives; and
• Delivering evidence-based health promotion programs to communities in need.

The mission of North Country HealthCare is to provide affordable, accessible, quality primary care in an atmosphere of dignity and respect where the health and well-being of patients and community are promoted through direct services, education, outreach, and advocacy.

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