The National Rural Health Association
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a national nonprofit membership organization with more than 20,000 members. The association’s mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues. The NRHA membership is made up of a diverse collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.
¤
To accomplish this, the Association espouses the following values that express the Association’s concern not only with the provision of health care services, but with the level of health and well-being that those services establish for rural areas and their residents.
- All Americans are entitled to an equitable level of health and well-being established through health care services regardless of geographic locale, gender, ethnic or racial background, or economic ability or status.
- Access to primary and preventive health care services should be available locally to rural residents to achieve the goal of preventing illness whenever possible.
- An overarching goal of the Association is to foster service partnerships among health care providers and facilities rather than focusing on the disciplines.
- The Association recognizes the value that each member brings to the improvement of rural health care services and values the multicultural diversity of its membership. Additionally, the Association realizes the broader scope of solutions and opportunities that may be achieved through the grassroots efforts of this diverse membership.
- The Association recognizes that collegiality and partnerships with and among other associations may serve to enhance or increase rural health accomplishments.
- The Association believes local residents should be involved in determining the health care needed and provided in their communities.
- The Association values and strives to achieve its role in helping members provide the best possible health care services by offering continuing education and information on rural health related issues, policy and research.
The Association values its role in improving rural health care services and thereby positively affecting the public health of rural people and populations. Through the involvement of its members, other organizations, and governmental entities, assistance is provided in achieving a more positive health care environment and maximum health status for all rural Americans. To this end, the Association strives to be a proactive and positive force in its efforts toward providing the best rural health care possible.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Writing to share some news about technology being unveiled next week in rural Georgia that will hopefully lead the way toward better health and community-wide improvements in Early County and that has implications for the entire state and nation. As you know, Ga. has some of the most appalling health disparities in the nation — especially in its rural areas (not enough med facilities, med professionals, literacy rate, etc.)
Former HHS Secretary Dr. Louis W. Sullivan is chairman of the National Health Museum (NHM). The NHM has collaborated with the state Department of Community Health (DCH) to develop a health kiosk, called the Personal Health Advisor (PHA). Through the touch of a computer screen, the kiosk (designed for all ages, education and computer literacy levels) provides free, personalized, private health information to citizens in a matter of minutes. Once residents have the info, they can share with their doctor. The kiosk will initially cover five health areas: diabetes, obesity, STD’s, high blood pressure and vaccines. The PHA is being unveiled Wed. Oct. 20, from 4-6 p.m. at the Primary Care of Southwest Georgia, Inc. clinic, at 360 College Street in Blakely, Georgia, (229) 723-2660, http://www.pcswga.org.
Lots of other activities that day — Dr. Sullivan, Rep. Sanford Bishop, DCH and clinic representatives will speak and there will be a DCH-sponsored health fair and major involvement from Early County 2055 (designed to improve economic development in a forgotten part of Ga.). There’s also a PBS documentary being filmed that day in Blakely (Early County history, its famous Burl tree, economics, etc.) Charles Rice will also be in attendance. Everything takes place at the clinic.
Please let us know if you would like to speak to someone regarding the new kiosk or related topics:
. aftermath of the peanut-illness (if the County would have had the PHA at the time of the outbreak, residents could have received instant information to help safeguard their health)
. how economics in a place like Early County ties into the health of its population
. flu season/vaccine program on the kiosk
. how the former HHS is trying to improve the health of the residents of his rural boyhood home (Blakely)
. DCH Rural Health Program
. health information technology
. the National Health Museum
. nutrition needs in rural Ga.
. food labeling (Sullivan began mandatory U.S. food package labeling)
. tobacco
. exercise and nutrition (Sullivan and his wife walk every morning, no matter where they are in the world. Dr. Sullivan — in his 70-s — had hip replacement surgery about four years ago, but still walks several miles each day and is a firm believer in healthy choices).
We’ve would be ahppty to send Sullivan’s bio, a news advisory for background and a PHA fact sheet.
Please let us know if you would like to speak with Dr. Sullivan at any time (he will be in Blakely all day on the 20th, but is also available via phone for advance pieces or post event stories). Kiosk photos available.
Thanks again.
Gayle
Gayle Converse
Media Relations
Office of Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.
133 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-414-8262 (cell)
gcprod@bellsouth.net