Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed today Rural Health Day in North Carolina, noting that when the N.C. Office of Rural Health opened in 1973 it was the first state office in the nation created to focus on the health care needs of rural and underserved communities.
“Small towns and rural areas are great places to raise a family and a vital part of the economic engine in our state,” said Governor Cooper. “The health care providers serving our rural communities help keep our citizens strong and healthy, and we appreciate their service.”
The theme for this year’s observance, ‘Celebrate the Strength of Rural,’ honors the selfless, community-minded, can-do spirit that prevails in rural communities across North Carolina. Approximately 2.2 million people – one in five North Carolinians – live in the state’s rural communities.
The Office of Rural Health administers more than 300 contracts assuring access to quality health care for citizens living in underserved areas. State, federal and philanthropic sources provide more than $28 million to improve access, quality and cost-effectiveness of care through efforts supported by the office. More than 90 percent of the funds go directly to North Carolina communities.
The Office of Rural Health supports provider recruitment and placement for medical, dental and psychiatric health professionals, rural health centers, community health programs, the Rural Hospital Program, Medication Assistance Program, Statewide Telepsychiatry Program, the NC Farmworker Health Program and integrated health systems.
“This is a time to celebrate the many unique qualities of rural life,” said Maggie Sauer, ORH Director. “It is also a time to focus on the many unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face – and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers and stakeholders, working with the N.C. Office of Rural Health, to address those challenges.”