Geographical, economic, social and cultural barriers to accessing services in rural areas are widely reported. Less widely discussed are dilemmas posed by individual and community reluctance to address sensitive health issues. This article, focusing on the highly sensitive area of mental health, and employing a participatory action approach,…

Context: The challenge of providing meaningful health care services to veterans living in rural communities is a major public health concern that involves redefining the traditional facility-based model of care delivery employed in urban areas. Purpose: This paper describes the steps of a demonstration project, the Elko Telehealth Outreach Clinic.…

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation designated as the administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). USAC administers the Universal Service Fund and the four Universal Service programs: High Cost, Low Income, Rural Health Care,…

Context: Multiple national agencies and organizations recommend that women age 40 years and older have an annual screening mammogram. Women who are poor, less educated, lack a usual source of care, and reside in rural Appalachia are less likely to have had a recent mammogram. Purpose: To increase use of mammography among a rural Appalachian…

Describes advance arrangements, local preparations and results of lead poisoning testing done in rural southeastern Illinois. Results confirm that lead poisoning is not confined to urban areas. (HS)

Context: Statewide studies indicate a continuing shortfall of personnel in several allied health disciplines in rural Georgia. National trends indicate lagging enrollment in allied health education programs, suggesting that the workforce shortages will worsen. Purpose: This article describes the efforts of the School of Allied Health Sciences at…

Through its Health Manpower Distribution Project, the National Health Council has developed three demonstration projects in rural Maine, inner city New Orleans, and Applachian Kentucky to test methods of influencing students to practice in shortage areas. Four additional projects have been funded and three regional workshops sponsored. (MW)

The primary care pediatric residency program at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center has developed a training program in rural primary care. Residents experience the many facets of rural practice and are introduced to community-oriented approaches to child health care. (Author/MLW)

This paper describes a project which is attempting to strengthen existing mental health programs and develop new forms of support for rural children, since current programs are limited by a scarcity of funds, trained personnel, and supportive services. The setting of the project is a three-county area in Southwestern Pennsylvania which has been…

This is a description of a mental health project in which the goal of assisting the general public in managing stability-threatening situations is pursued by starting outside the community mental health center, in a rural high school. Included are: (1) a description of students; (2) a statement of goals that directed the teaching effort; (3) the…

A study of Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia) medical school primary care residency graduates (n=200) and other specialty graduates (n=371) suggests that the institution's policy of requiring first-year residencies in small community health services may cause more graduates, both primary care and specialists, to choose rural practice locations.…

A pilot project to assess the usefulness of rural volunteer Emergency Medical Coordinators (EMC's) was initiated in 36 rural Georgian towns of less than 2,000 population. An EMC program was established in those 36 rural towns that had no physician or ambulance service, to provide a rapid response to accidental injuries in order to maintain life…

Addressing the lack of cooperation between early intervention programs and the rural health community, this monograph presents eight papers by educators and health professionals who identify specific problems and offer solutions in the form of effective collaboration techniques and model programs. Papers by Susan Hastings and Stewart Gabel…