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I’d like to share an experience I recently had. It
happened at a meeting, in a room filled with other
health care professionals. In an attempt to be
“neighborly,” I introduced myself to the person seated
next to me, sharing that I was the chief executive
officer of a rural hospital.
The conversation continued with the typical niceties,
when suddenly my new neighbor – who worked at a large,
urban facility – exclaimed, “Your job must be a piece of
cake!” Now, I am not sure what possessed my neighbor to
blurt this out, but obviously this health care
professional had no idea about rural health care. So, I
decided to be a “good” neighbor and I gave her a quick
course in Rural Health Care 101.
I am sure that most of you, if not all, could share
similar experiences. It seems that unless you have lived
and/or worked in a rural setting, you really don’t have
any idea of the challenges, joys, frustration and
elation we experience every day. That is why it falls on
us to tell our story.
We have to be the ones to shout it from the rooftops
that rural health care is vital and it matters. It is
our responsibility to educate and advocate for rural
health. We need to be the educator of Rural Health Care
101 to our urban counterparts and state and federal
officials every time we have the opportunity. And our
collective voice needs to be strong.
This is why membership in the Kentucky Rural Health
Association is so important. As health care
professionals, providers and supporters, we |
have the opportunity and obligations to join several
societies, associations and organizations that represent
our various professions, organizations and agendas.
However, KRHA is the organization that focuses
solely on the unique needs, challenges, goals and
agendas of all rural health providers in the
Commonwealth. Our sole mission is to “educate providers
and consumers on rural health issues and advocate
actions by private and public leaders to assure
equitable access to health care for rural Kentuckians.”
The success and survival of KRHA depends squarely on the
membership. In fact, the size of our membership directly
influences the impact we have on people who make
decisions that affect each of us on a daily basis.
If you are reading this and are not a member of KRHA,
what are you waiting for? Joining is easy and
affordable. If you are involved in health care in rural
Kentucky, you have no excuse for not joining. We need
you; without you, there is no KRHA and no mission.
If you are already a member, thanks for being one of us,
and do not forget to renew your membership. Urge your
colleagues, co-workers, staff members and others in your
organizations and your communities to join KRHA.
We all know that health care facilities are good for
both the health and wealth of rural communities. In
fact, I have read that health care will be the
industrial parks of the 21st century in rural
economic development. We are vital to the communities we
serve. |
So talk to your board members, community leaders and
elected officials about rural health care and the
importance of KRHA and invite them to join our cause and
our association. Together, our rural voice works
proactively toward making our communities healthier.
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Susan Starling is president of the Kentucky
Rural Health Association, a member
organization that educates providers and
consumers on rural health issues and
advocates actions by private and public
leaders to assure equitable access to health
care for rural Kentuckians. Starling serves
as president/chief executive officer of
Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital in
Irvine. She may be contacted at (606)
723-2115 or via e-mail at
sstarlin@marcum-andwallace.org or
sstarlin@health-partners.org. |
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