People who live in rural communities can face barriers to healthcare. It’s an issue hospital systems are trying to overcome.
Some of those challenges include transportation (distance,) workforce shortages and being under-insured or uninsured.
According to the 2021 Ohio Rural Health Improvement Plan, those surveyed from “rural and Appalachian counties in Ohio are less likely to believe there are adequate services in their counties.”
The survey also said, “those who live in rural areas travel further distances and for longer times for primary care services than those who do not live in rural areas.” Also, respondents “in rural and Appalachian counties are slightly more likely to use emergency rooms for conditions that could be treated by regular doctors.”
University Hospitals is making more investments in the rural communities it serves.
Anita HouselNew this spring, the treatment area at UH Conneaut Medical Center in Ashtabula County has been renovated and now has the well-known UH Seideman Cancer Center name that gives patients access to more specialized care. This location and UH Geneva are classified as Critical Access Hospitals.