By Dr. Ivy Vachon, Emplify Health by Bellin Marinette Clinic
November 20 marks National Rural Health Day (NRHD), a chance to recognize the challenges and celebrate the opportunities of rural healthcare nationwide. Emplify Health by Bellin is marking this annual observance with a simple call to action for those living in rural communities — establish care with a primary care provider (PCP). If you have a PCP, set and keep regular appointments, along with screenings and other health checks. It could improve your health — and even save your life.
We know primary care is critical. Your PCP can help you maintain consistency with your care, advise on physical and mental wellness, help ensure you’re up to date with screenings and other preventive measures and connect the dots in all aspects of your health. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “It is well-documented that health systems with a strong base of primary care provide better access to health services, and have improved health outcomes, lower mortality, and more equity.” In short, primary care matters.
Of course, consistent care with a PCP is important for anyone. So why this special callout for our rural communities? The data tell the story.
According to the nationwide Rural Health Information Hub, more than a quarter of Wisconsin’s 5.9 million residents live in nonmetro areas. As a population, they have a lower average median household income and are more likely to live in poverty, as well as be be unemployed and uninsured. These and other indicators are what we call Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) — non-medical factors that influence overall health — and we often see a notable difference in rural areas.
Rural residents often face other barriers, too, including the ability to access care close to home. At Emplify Health by Bellin, we never want geography to be a barrier to receiving great care. We have 11 rural health clinics (RHCs) across our footprint, along with several clinics in outlying areas that aren’t classified as RHCs but nonetheless serve patients in rural communities. This summer, we celebrated two rural health milestones — the 20-year anniversary of Bellin Health Oconto Hospital, now known as Emplify Health by Bellin Oconto Hospital, and the 10-year anniversary of our mobile mammography and bone densitometry unit, which brings lifesaving screenings to patients in rural areas.
You care for our communities, and we care for you. Take the challenge this Rural Health Day, and encourage your family and friends to do the same. If you don’t have a PCP, find one (we can help!), and if you do, make sure you’re maintaining consistent appointments and care. Working together, we can celebrate and improve rural health.