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 Series.
The discussion, titled “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 Kirsten Henry, administrator of the CCHS Department of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine. Panelists included Drs. Stacy Horsley, a family medicine physician at University Medical Center; Ashley Steiner, a family medicine obstetrics physician at UMC; and Crystal Skinner, a family medicine physician at Tushka Direct Primary Care in Tuscaloosa, Ala. CCHS operates UMC.
Panelists addressed questions about the biggest barriers to accessing care, citing 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 while noting ongoing issues with internet access and connectivity in rural areas.
The panel explored challenges physicians face when choosing to work in rural communities, including cultural adaptation, financial stability, educational system differences and limited incentive programs. Panelists also emphasized the role of community health workers in bridging gaps in care through home visits, improved technology access 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 all health-care professionals, faculty, residents, fellows and medical students.