Recommendation for Increasing Health Department Utilization in Rural Georgia
Location
Virtual
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Jessica S. Schwind
Course Name
EPID-7230-A: Social Epidemiology and Health Equity
Session Type
Graduate Poster Presentation
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Start Date
14-4-2020 2:30 PM
Description
Since 2010, hospital closures have impacted rural communities across the United States. These closures have affected local economies, as well as healthcare access, service availability, and outcomes of care for community residents. In response, county health departments play an increasingly important role in ensuring quick and easy access to essential health services across rural America. Despite the documented benefits of county health departments, the South Central Health District of Georgia reported low rates of service utilization across many subpopulations within the past five years. The primary objective of our JPHCOPH Social Epidemiology and Health Equity service-learning project was to identify influencing factors on health department utilization in communities and develop evidence-based, rural-focused recommendations for increasing utilization in our counties of interest. County health departments should develop innovative solutions to meet the specific needs of the rural communities they serve, which can help ensure sustainability of the health services offered.
Recommendation for Increasing Health Department Utilization in Rural Georgia
Virtual
Since 2010, hospital closures have impacted rural communities across the United States. These closures have affected local economies, as well as healthcare access, service availability, and outcomes of care for community residents. In response, county health departments play an increasingly important role in ensuring quick and easy access to essential health services across rural America. Despite the documented benefits of county health departments, the South Central Health District of Georgia reported low rates of service utilization across many subpopulations within the past five years. The primary objective of our JPHCOPH Social Epidemiology and Health Equity service-learning project was to identify influencing factors on health department utilization in communities and develop evidence-based, rural-focused recommendations for increasing utilization in our counties of interest. County health departments should develop innovative solutions to meet the specific needs of the rural communities they serve, which can help ensure sustainability of the health services offered.
