St. Francis Hospital & Health Services, along with communities across America, will celebrate the first National Rural Health Day on November 17.  The goal of National Rural Health Day is to increase awareness of rural health-related issues and highlight the values of living and working in rural communities. 

Approximately 62 million people –one in five Americans-live in rural areas.  In Missouri 89.4 percent of Missouri’s land is located within rural counties with approximately 2.22 million Missourians – 37 percent of Missouri’s population – live in rural areas.  Missouri’s primary care services are provided by 68 rural hospitals, 365 certified rural health clinics and nearly 180 federally qualified community-based health care delivery sites. 

“Health care needs cannot be addressed in a one size fits all approach,” said Gray Cox, Hospital President.  “Each rural community is made up differently, and to meet the needs of our community, St. Francis continues to identify and address the unique needs of our residents.

Health care plays a vital role for many rural communities.  The local health care delivery systems in many rural areas of Missouri are often met with various challenges including recruitment and retention of needed professionals. 

“Because health care continues to change, we must be flexible in order to best serve our residents,” said Cox. “Using our resources efficiently, improving operational efficiencies, and highlighting our great community to attract professionals is important in providing essential health care services.”

For more information, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Office of Primary Care and Rural Health website at health.mo.gov/living/families/ruralhealth/index.php.