Listening to the Communities We Serve - Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

Access to Health for Rural Populations

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky conducted a series of workshops throughout the state to better understand the priority healthcare concerns of the Commonwealth.  Access to health for rural populations was a top concern expressed in these workshops.

Facts

  • Almost ½ of Kentucky’s population live in rural areas1

  • Percentage of rural residents in poverty in Kentucky: 13.4%2

  • There are 97 hospitals in Kentucky, 67 of those are located in rural areas1

  • Kentucky has the highest proportion of adults under 65 without teeth3

  • Only 15 Kentucky counties now meet the federally recommended physician manpower standards4

  • 1,273 physicians left Kentucky between Jan 2000 and Dec 2002, 31% went to surrounding states such as Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, where insurance premiums are less expensive4

Leading Organizations

The Rural Assistance Center provides a wealth of KY contacts and resources on rural info 

US Department of Human and Health Services & HRSA Rural Health Policy promote better healthcare services in rural America

Kentucky Rural Health Association ensures equitable distribution of and access to health care for rural Kentuckians 

TheCenter of Excellence for Rural Health is committed to being partners with hospitals, community organizations, and non-profit groups, in promoting health care in rural Kentucky

The National Rural Health Associationconducts educational events, gives Congressional testimony, issues publications, and supports model programs to keep rural communities healthy and viable.

Useful Links


Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky: Initiatives

In 2003, the Foundation endowed a Chair, Michael E. Samuels, Dr.P.H. in Rural Health Policy at the University of Kentucky.  Since coming to UK, Dr. Mike Samuel’s has conducted a number research projects including the most recent report The Health of Kentucky: A County Assessment released September 2007.  For a complete listing of Dr. Samuels research and other activities see his annual reports listed each year on the Presentations & Reports section of this website. 

The Foundation has also made grants for advocacy efforts aimed at increasing access to health care for persons living in rural areas.  For a complete list of Foundation grantees, please visit the Grantee section of this website.

References

1Rural Assistance Center: Kentucky

2Fighting poor dental health in Kentucky, 2007

3USDA Economic Research Service:  Rural Income, Poverty, and Welfare, 2006

4Rural Kentucky’s Physician Shortage, 2005