(Nov. 3, 2023) – The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day.
National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to "Celebrate the Power of Rural" by honoring the incredible efforts of rural health care providers, communities, organizations, State Offices of Rural Health and other stakeholders dedicated to addressing the unique health care needs of rural America.
Kansas rural hospitals provide essential health care services to a growing population of rural Medicare beneficiaries. More than 900,000 people call rural Kansas home. They provide care 24 hours a day year-round. They ensure Kansans receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time. They not only care for the health of their communities but also contribute to the economic fiber of those communities.
Here are just a few facts about the delivery of health care in rural Kansas.
- 103 Kansas community hospitals are rural
- These hospitals treat more than 64,543 patients annually
- Hospitals and health services are one of the largest employers in the state
- More than 319,488 emergency room visits take place in rural hospitals
- Rural hospitals deliver more than 8,416 babies annually
Rural Kansas is a great place for mission-minded health professionals to provide individualized care. We celebrate all those who go the extra mile to care for rural Kansans!
In an effort to recognize and raise awareness of the innovative rural health infrastructure in Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly has signed a proclamation to mark Nov. 16 as National Rural Health Day in the Sunflower State. She recognized that Kansas rural communities are a fixture for living and working in this state, and rural hospitals are the economic foundation of their communities.
KHA is celebrating National Rural Health Day at the Rural Health Symposium on Nov. 16, in Hays. Topics covered include Compassionomics: the revolutionary scientific evidence that caring makes a difference, hospital financial strategies, sustaining rural communities and networking roundtables.
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Chad Austin