Rural communities face barriers to health care, including transportation difficulties, financial challenges and limited health literacy. Yet innovative strategies, such as telehealth and remote patient monitoring, could help improve access and strengthen the rural health workforce, panelists said during a College of Community Health Sciences Grand Rounds Lecture.
The discussion, “Beyond the Headlines: What’s Really Happening in Rural Health Care?” was led by moderators Dr. Tamer Elsayed, chair of the CCHS Department of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine, and the department’s administrator, Kirsten Henry. Panelists included: Dr. Stacy Horsley, a clinical assistant professor with CCHS; Dr. Ashley Steiner, a clinical associate professor with CCHS; and Dr. Crystal Skinner, a family medicine physician with Tushka Direct Primary Care in Tuscaloosa. Horsley is also a family medicine physician with University Medical Center in Northport, and Steiner, a family medicine obstetrician, cares for patients at UMC clinics in Tuscaloosa and Demopolis. UMC is operated by CCHS.
Panelists addressed questions about the biggest barriers to accessing care in rural communities, which they said included transportation, financial challenges for both patients and clinics, and health literacy. They also discussed how telehealth can better serve rural populations, highlighting remote patient monitoring as a potential solution, but noted that there are still ongoing issues with internet access and connectivity in rural areas.
Panelists also discussed the challenges physicians face when choosing to work in rural communities, including cultural adaptation, financial stability and limited incentive programs. They emphasized the role of community health workers in bridging gaps in care through home visits and patient education tools.
Grand Rounds is a monthly lecture series featuring case-based, interactive presentations that engage attendees in discussion, pose dilemmas and challenge thinking. The series is open to CCHS faculty, residents, fellows and medical students as well as community health-care professionals.