Rural Health in Ohio: Issues and Trends Heather Reed, Administrator Primary Care and Rural Health Program Ohio Department of Health

Learning Objectives Understand the uniqueness of rural Ohio as it relates to health status and health care access Identify at least five rural-specific health status or health care access issues Describe successful collaborative interventions to address rural health needs in Ohio

What is Rural?

Definitions of Rural U.S. Census Bureau Urban = 50,000 people Office of Management and Budget Metro areas + economic ties to core counties Economic Research Service (USDA) Gaining popularity – combines Census Bureau data with commuting patterns

Rural Ohio Source: Counties designated as rural, partially rural, or urban under the definition used by the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, 9/2009 Rural County Partially Rural County Urban County Appalachia

Rural Ohio 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties are considered rural or partially rural 32 counties in southeast Ohio make up the state’s Appalachian region Approximately 24% of Ohio’s residents live in rural areas and the remaining 76% reside in urban areas

Why Define Rural? Eligibility for federal rural grant programs Implementation of programs and/or laws Research purposes to allow for statistical consistency

Regional Comparison Rural Health Grants Ohio - $22,653,160 Michigan - $72,315,051 Pennsylvania - $18,973,046 Indiana - $12,301,109 West Virginia - $28,616,136 Kentucky - $30,531,145

Health Status and Health Care Access

Rural Populations and Chronic Disease Rural populations have higher rates of: Hypertension Heart disease Cancer Stroke

Health Risk Factors Rural populations report higher rates of: Cigarette smoking Obesity Physical inactivity

Rural Health Access Issues Chronic shortages of providers Aging population Increased reliance on Medicare and Medicaid Inadequate transportation Poverty/rural economic decline Rural consumers going “urban” for health care services

Ohio HPSA Map = Geographic HPSA = Special Population HPSA = Facility HPSA = Correctional Facility HPSA C Source: Ohio Department of Health, Primary Care Office, Sept CLERMONT

Rural Access Barriers Financial Geographic Organizational/Availability Sociological/Acceptability

Rural Health System Plays Major Economic Role Not only do rural health systems have an important role in health care delivery, they also have an important economic role  Health sector often largest employer in rural counties However, most rural residents have little idea of the importance of the health sector to the economy

Health care safety net

Urban vs. Rural “Safety Net” Safety Net: Web of health care professionals and institutions that provide care to the poor and uninsured, regardless of ability to pay Urban systems: Often depend heavily on teaching hospitals and professional educational programs that use trainees to care for low-income patients Also include health centers and homeless centers Rural systems: Generally do not have these types of resources

Rural Safety Net Instead, the rural safety net depends upon a variety of different individual providers and provider types: Rural hospitals Rural Health Clinics Community Health Centers (e.g. FQHCs) Public health departments Private practitioners

Ohio’s CAHs, FQHCs, and RHCs Source: Ohio Department of Health, State Office of Rural Health, July 2010

Successful Collaborations Galion Community Hospital Needs assessment with broad community support and involvement CAO of Scioto County Health Clinic Expanded services for low-income women Knox County Health Department Maintenance of a community-wide wellness coalition

Additional Resources Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, HRSA Rural Assistance Center National Rural Health Resource Center

For More Information Heather Reed, Administrator Primary Care and Rural Health Program Ohio Department of Health 246 North High Street, 6 th Floor Columbus, OH (614) Phone (614) Fax