The Arizona Rural Health Association (AzRHA) is pleased to announce that Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has signed a proclamation declaring Thursday, November 17, 2022 to be Rural Health Day in Arizona.
The Governor’s proclamation, made at the request of AzRHA, celebrates the important contributions of health care professionals who serve Arizona’s rural communities.
Recognized by the Governor’s proclamation are members of the Arizona workforce who work in rural hospitals, health clinics, behavioral and community health centers, county health departments, private clinical and dental practices, pharmacies, paramedics, and emergency medical services (EMS) and community health workers.
Many Arizona residents who live in rural communities experience significant challenges accessing health services due to geographic isolation, income inequities, lack of health insurance, language barriers, or other service barriers. They experience health workforce shortages in every professional category; in response, federal agencies have designated most of rural Arizona as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). These conditions create barriers for people seeking services and contribute to stress among the health professionals who serve rural communities.
Rural health organizations often have difficulty competing with urban care providers in recruiting and retaining health professionals because of salary inequities. Rural health professionals are under pressure to maintain practice environments and often find it harder to sustain operations.
Honoring Rural Health Day, AzRHA is planning a no-cost public webinar titled “The Rural Health Landscape.” This webinar is scheduled for November 16, 2022 at 11 a.m. and will feature Mr. Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association. Webinar co-sponsors include the University of Arizona’s Center for Rural Health, Arizona Telemedicine Program, Southwest Arizona Telehealth Resource Center, and the All-of-Us Research Program.
To learn more and register for this webinar or about Arizona Rural Health Day, visit www.azrhassociation.org.
