Navigating Social Determinants in Rural Communities
No more than 20% of long-term health has anything to do with the quality of your medical care.
It’s all about social determinants of health (SDOH).
Our team tries to deliver great psychiatric care and addiction treatment to our rural communities.
But, we need to appreciate the other 80% to really understand our patients.
Population health in rural America is very different than in urban and suburban communities.
Here’s why:
Money
- higher poverty rates
- lower household incomes
- higher unemployment
Education
- lower educational attainment
- lower health literacy
Infrastructure
- sparse public transportation
- longer distances to work or healthcare
- poor road conditions
- lack of safe housing
Food
- poor access to affordable, healthy food
Technology
- 40% of rural communities don’t have high-speed internet
- limited access to telehealth, remote work, distance learning
Culture
- intergenerational trauma and discrimination among minoritized populations
- lack of culturally competent care
Healthcare isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor.
Photo Credit: Jack Bell Photography
