11/06/17  Portland, Ore.

Rural communities are wonderful places to live and work, which is why over 60 million people – nearly one in five Americans – call them home.

In Oregon, over 35% of our population lives in rural communities. Our small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are places where neighbors know each other, listen to each other, respect each other and work together to benefit the greater good.

The third Thursday of every November – November 16, 2017 – we celebrate National Rural Health Day. National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America and rural Oregon. It also gives us a chance to shine a light on the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face, and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health, State Rural Health Associations and other rural stakeholders to address those challenges.

What are you doing to celebrate?

Join the national conversation by attending any or all of the Three 30 Minute “WebSights”- @NOSORH web sessions designed to give you great insight in to the issues that are important in our real rural world!

Join the Health Resources Service Administration’s (HRSA) week long twitter chats @hrsa.gov!

Hold an open house at your local health care facility – celebrate your providers, staff and community!

Host students at your health care facility – teach them about your facility and how they can become healthcare providers!

Visit a school - health care providers and administrators can go to schools in your community and teach students about health, healthcare and career opportunities!

The possibilities are endless! If you have questions about celebrating National Rural Health Day in your community, contact Robert Duehmig | duehmigr@ohsu.edu | 503-494-7949.