Celebrating the power of rural with National Rural Health Day
Contact: Mardi Ford
LA GRANDE - Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics (GRH) joins thousands across America celebrating the “Power of Rural” – honoring this day as specifically set aside by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH).
“(T)he third Thursday of every November (we) celebrate National Rural Health Day. First and foremost, National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to Celebrate the Power of Rural by honoring the selfless, community-minded, can do spirit that prevails in rural America. But it also gives us a chance to bring to light the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face – and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address those challenges.” – NOSORH
Rural America – where one in five Americans live in small towns, on family farms and ranches that cover more than 95% of the geographical landscape of the United States. Historically, our dotted landscape of rural communities spread across the wide open spaces have thrived because of the self-sufficient and selfless people who work together to ensure a better life for future generations.
Traditionally rural Americans have had less access to health care, while also being more likely to suffer from serious issues like cancer or respiratory disease. These unique challenges have driven all of us here at GRH to embrace outside-the-box innovation and forward-thinking strategies to create new methods of care delivery right here at home, while also working to bring in as many specialty services as possible.
Improving access to care has been core to the GRH mission for more than a decade and has afforded the people we serve in our region greater access than is typically found in rural communities. I am proud of the foundation that has been set, the collaborative work we are doing today and the innovative vision we have for the future of healthcare in rural Northeast Oregon.
There are still pioneers in Rural America – and a lot of them work in health care. We are making a difference in the lives of those we care for here at GRH. Please join me in celebrating what makes us unique, what brings us together and fuels our passion to give our best.
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