1. Rural Healthcare Issues
Carolyn Bern
Director, Office of Community Affairs

2. Healthy Communities
“A healthy community is one that continuously creates and improves both its physical and social environments, helping people to support one another in aspects of daily life and to develop to their fullest potential” Healthy People 2010, HHS

3. www.adph.org – A to Z index – CHA- Community Health Needs Assessment
Resources
State of Alabama Community Health Needs Assessment – 2015
13 Top Healthcare Priorities and Data
Access to Care
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Poor Pregnancy Outcomes
Nutrition and Physical Activity
Cardiovascular Disease
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Cancer
Child Abuse and Neglect
Diabetes
Geriatrics
Injury and Violence Prevention
Oral Health
Cigarette Smoking
– A to Z index – CHA- Community Health Needs Assessment

4. 2015 State of Alabama Community Health Improvement Plan
Resources
2015 State of Alabama Community Health Improvement Plan
Access to Care
Nutrition and Physical Activity
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
ACHIP - Community Health Improvement Plan

5. Email: carolyn.bern@adph.state.al.us
Resources
2015 Provider-Side Transportation Assessment Survey
Completed by Regional Planning Commission/City Council of Government Regions.
Based on input from rural safety net providers.
Part of ACHIP
Policy - Volunteer Transportation

6. New Resource Health Care Recruitment Ready Cities Program
Created for ACE Communities
Aging Healthcare Workforce
Healthcare Infrastructure needed for Economic Development
Most counties in Alabama are Primary Care, Mental Health and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas
Gap between number of retiring doctors and number of available doctors will put more pressure on rural communities to replace aging doctors.