Rural Communities and Health
April 3-9 is National Public Health Week 2023, and we are joining American Public Health Association (APHA) in “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health.” Each day this week, we are highlighting a community health program or organization whose mission and work align with APHA’s theme of the day. Together, we make health happen.
Rural Health
Maine is one of the most rural states in the country, with more than half of its citizens living in rural areas. In Washington and Hancock counties, more than 9 in 10 residents live rural communities. Rural communities are faced with multiple challenges to both healthcare access and resource availability. According to both the Washington County and Hancock County 2022 Shared Health Needs Assessments, access to care and mental health were identified as the top two health priorities.*
Rural Americans have higher rates of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Compared to urban residents, they are at higher risk for poor health outcomes because of the range of health disparities they face. Racial/ethnic minorities and tribal groups are at higher risk for poor health outcomes, compared to non-Hispanic white adults. These health disparities include poverty, food deserts, also known as food apartheid, exposure to specific environmental hazards, and less time for leisurely physical activity. People living in rural areas have less access to health care because of fewer providers and facilities and more transportation barriers. They are also not as likely to have health insurance. These factors play a part in the greater risk of death from heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, and unintentional injury from motor vehicle crashes and opioid overdoses that rural residents face.
Children living in rural Down East Maine also face greater challenges to their development, mental health, and behavioral health due to a shortage of healthcare providers. The Maine
Monitor recently published an article highlighting the severe shortage of mental health service providers in Washington County.
Read APHA’s post addressing rural barriers to healthcare resources, in English or Spanish.
Lea la publicación de APHA que aborda las barreras rurales a los recursos de atención médica, en inglés o en español.
Area Health Education Centers
The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is a program established by the US government in 1971 to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural and underserved areas. AHEC aims to improve access to quality healthcare services for people living in these areas by training and recruiting healthcare professionals. AHEC works in partnership with academic institutions, healthcare providers, and community organizations to offer educational programs, clinical training, and support services to students, residents, and practicing healthcare professionals. The program focuses on primary care and emphasizes the needs of underserved populations, including rural, low-income, and minority communities.
AHEC is essential for rural health because it addresses the shortage of healthcare professionals in underserved areas, which can lead to decreased access to healthcare services, longer wait times, and increased healthcare costs. By providing training and support for healthcare professionals, AHEC helps to improve the quality of healthcare services in rural communities. AHEC also offers educational programs and resources for community members, such as health screenings and health promotion activities, which can help to prevent and manage chronic diseases. Overall, AHEC plays a crucial role in improving healthcare access and outcomes for rural communities.
Healthy Acadia serves as the AHEC for Eastern Maine.
Healthy Acadia is proud to serve as Eastern Maine's Area Health Education Center (AHEC). The Maine AHEC Network's mission is to enhance health equity and reduce health disparities among underserved populations through team and community-based experiential education and strategic partnerships. We are working to address health profession workforce shortages, meet learning needs for those entering the health profession, and respond to current and emerging issues by exposing health profession students to rural clinical and community-based settings.
Healthy Acadia recently hosted a "Rural Health Immersion" for physician assistant students from the University of New England. Students spent three days in Hancock County, where they traveled to the Cranberry Isles, visited Mount Desert Island Hospital, and met with other community health and safety partners, including Bar Harbor Fire and Police Departments, Maine Seacoast Mission, Open Table, and the Inspire Recovery Center. The students had a wonderful immersion and got great exposure to what it's like to live, work, and play in a rural setting. It was incredibly informative and fun. We are immensely grateful to the many community partners who eagerly shared their time and expertise with this group of students to provide valuable community-based experiential education."
- Maria Donahue, Healthy Acadia's AHEC Director
*To explore reports, data, and additional information by County, District, and State, visit www.mainechna.org.
Together we make health happen.
To make a donation to support Healthy Acadia’s programming and initiatives, click here or send a check by mail to Healthy Acadia, PO Box 1710, Ellsworth, ME, 04605. Thank you for your support!
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