The Power of Rural Communities in Advancing Health

Rural areas represent 97 percent of the U.S. land mass and 20 percent of Americans live in rural communities. Much of our nation’s food, affordable energy, clean drinking water and outdoor recreation opportunities come from rural America. Despite the positive contributions of rural Americans, 80 percent of people living in rural communities are medically underserved. This means few primary care providers, high infant mortality and poverty rates and an increasing number of people needing health care reside in rural areas. The impact of social drivers of health, including adequate transportation, housing, or food, is more profound in rural communities. The American Hospital Association offers resources to understand health care challenges for rural Americans and ways to advance the health of these communities.