Disparities In Health Care In Rural Areas

Accessibility to health care has been a problem for many years and continue to be an obstacle for various people. Copious obstacles hinder people’s access to basic health care that’s essential for optimal quality of life, disease prevention, and preserving independence. Among the numerous barriers, the availability of primary care clinics, specialty care clinics, and hospitals in rural areas impact people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic status tremendously. The disparities in the availability of clinics and hospitals can result in higher morbidity and mortality rates in residents living in rural areas as compared to people living in urban areas. One possible solution to improve the accessibility problem for rural communities is the implementation

Wills el al. (2017) explain that residents have to travel longer distance and often experience higher prevalence of untreated diseases, resulting in poor overall health. In addition, they emphasize that the greatest obstacle for elderly is the lack of proximal access because older adults are more likely to be have limited ability to travel independently, pay for services, and care for themselves. Buzza et al. (2011) agree and explain that as health status of individuals deteriorate, they often require more frequent specialty care services. However, for the same reason, they are incapable of seeking specialty care services due to the significant burden on them physically and

Mobile health care vans can provide a variety of services such as preventive care, dental care, vision care, prenatal care, and many others. Mobile clinics can provide screening, diagnostic testing, and education on various health concerns in order to prevent the development of chronic health problems. Additionally, they can refer patients to specialty care that’s not available on the mobile health care vans if it’s truly necessary. Mobile health clinics operate by utilizing standard vans or buses that are modified on the inside to fit medical equipment, tools, and supplies necessary for treatments. According to Mobilehealthmap.org, an estimated amount of 2,000 mobile clinics are located throughout the country such as Family Van affiliated with Harvard Medical School. However, there’s no widespread and uniform way of operating these mobile clinics. Additionally, there’s a discrepancy in the frequency of operation. Thus, as a proposal, a fixed schedule can be created for different community areas. Mobile clinics providing different types of services can visit a community on a weekly rotational basis. For example, a mobile clinic providing primary and preventive care can visit on Monday and Tuesday, a mobile clinic providing basic dental care