Rural Healthcare

In recent years, Rural Healthcare has seen an increasing amount of attention from the public health community. However, far from the resources available to urban communities, the disparities that exist within rural healthcare have been a major concern for patients and providers alike for several centuries. To accurately characterize the nature of rural healthcare and understand these disparities, one must consider factors such as: the patient-provider relationship, prevalent battles with mental health and addiction, the lack of accessibility to healthcare/specialized services, affordability, and the use of home remedies which speaks to the efficacy of rural healthcare as a whole. Through a compilation of local oral histories, several narrators provide their perspective on each of the aforementioned aspects of rural healthcare as they discuss their experience with medicine, receiving care, and managing their health while living in rural areas.

Chasity Hargrove, a pharmacist from Dunn, North Carolina, experiences the effects of drug abuse and mental health issues first-hand as well as how rural areas can exacerbate these issues due to lack of resources and awareness. Ysaura Rodriguez, a Mexican indigenous woman who grew up in Dunn, North Carolina, describes the use of ashes, spider webs, lemon juice, and alcohol to stop bleeding and infection due to mistrust in healthcare providers. Kesha Neely, a resident of Fayetteville, NC, discusses the lack of resources and healthcare accessibility in her area, focusing on the lack of transportation that makes it difficult for communities to access grocery stores, hospitals, and other vital industries. Working at CommWell Health has exposed her to many of the societal and medical issues that she has come to understand about her community, including the stigma associated within certain neighborhoods or with certain illnesses. Kenneth Cook, of Dunn, North Carolina, works as a Consumer Advisory Board Member for the Positive Life Department and discusses his incredibly personal relationship with his long-term healthcare provider as well as the emotional turmoil that resulted from his physician’s relocations and the necessity to travel great distances to find a new, unfamiliar doctor. Similarly, Ana Maria Deaver, a CNA also from Dunn, North Carolina, describes her positive relationships with her healthcare providers but also touches on the nervousness and fear that comes with visiting the doctor, despite being a healthcare professional herself. George Gould, a retired physician from Lenoir, North Carolina, discusses the differences in care based on access to insurance. He also advises rural doctors to have broad medical knowledge due to limited access to specialists, as referrals are often handled by phone rather than in person. His extensive experience in both private and community healthcare settings reinforces his understanding of rural medicine. Maria Torres, a CNA interpreter from Benson, North Carolina, discusses the challenges individuals face when seeking healthcare. She not only bridges language barriers but also understands the emotional and financial struggles her patients often endure. Her personal and professional experiences strongly strengthen her understanding of the healthcare system, particularly for underserved communities.

Though these narratives differ by content, location, and individual, they facilitate a holistic conversation on rural healthcare.