Rural communities face unique challenges to accessing quality health care and implementing sustainable policies to improve health outcomes. Many public health strategies that flourish in urban settings are not immediately relevant or possible in rural environments.
The Public Health Institute is committed to advancing rural health infrastructure and improving health outcomes by developing new technologies and implementing best practices in rural health policy and programming. Our rural health work focuses on improving access for low-income rural patients to health clinics, advancing adolescent sexual and reproductive health programs, developing strategies to reduce chronic and infectious diseases, tracking and mitigating the impacts of climate change in rural settings, and ensuring equitable health outcomes across rural communities in both the U.S. and across the globe, including low-income and elderly populations. Using our local knowledge and on-the-ground experience, PHI takes a community based approach to addressing rural health, and understands the need for nuanced health solutions across different communities.
Our expertise includes:
- Tracking diseases and adverse health outcomes in rural settings: Make sure your work is informed by the latest research and program evaluation. We are available to assist in survey research, chronic and infectious disease tracking, and community-based participatory research and solutions—with a focus on rural communities.
- Developing rural health leaders: Work with PHI to build the capacity of grassroots leaders and advocates who will push for policies, programs, and funding that support critical public health solutions, including a focus on rural communities.
- Building collaboratives for health: Our experts can help you bring together rural leaders from multiple sectors—including law enforcement, education, and public health—to learn how to collectively solve their communities’ biggest health challenges.
- Advancing rural health policies to reduce chronic disease: From improving food environments, physical activity opportunities, health care access, and violence prevention efforts, PHI experts can work with you to design and implement local or regional policies to improve rural health outcomes.
- Using new technology to tackle rural health challenges: PHI staff offer specialized expertise in telehealth strategies, including developing technological support and community networks to link rural health clinics and improve healthcare access for rural residents.
HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER? SEND US AN EMAIL.
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Resources and Tools
- 2016 Training Catalog: PHI's Center for Wellness and Nutrition
- California Field Research Poll: Obesity in Rural California Counties
- Increasing Local Funding Options for Disease Prevention Programs in Rural California Counties: Report and Advocacy Guide
- Telehealth: the RX to Effective Health Care Delivery - blog post, April 2013
Connie Chan Robison
Center for Connected Health Policy
Cleaner Cookstoves: Building Global Capacity & Improving Public Health
Global Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Control
Here's How We're Making a Difference
Expanding Telehealth Services in California
Recommendations by PHI’s Center for Connected Health Policy became the blueprint for California’s Telehealth Advancement Act of 2011. The act removes barriers, allowing the use of digital technologies to deliver a variety of health services. This can speed treatment for patients, eliminate the need for patient travel, improve communication among providers and lead to better care at a lower cost.
Increasing Access to Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs
CA4Health also created this video to further expand the understanding and need for community health workers.
PHI's CA4Health Changes Beverage Policies at Central Valley Head Start Centers
CA4Health, PHI’s statewide Community Transformation Grant covering rural and small California counties, worked with Head Start Centers across four Central Valley counties to adopt strong new healthy beverage standards to help give these children a head start to a healthier life.
As a result, 1,500 children through age five now drink water and unflavored milk (and breast milk for those up to 12 months) instead of soda, sports drinks, juice and juice drinks, and flavored milk.if($services_list) : ?>