rural health patti j. patterson, md, mph professor of pediatrics vp for rural and community health

Rural HealthRural Health

Patti J. Patterson, MD, MPHPatti J. Patterson, MD, MPHProfessor of PediatricsProfessor of Pediatrics

VP for Rural and Community VP for Rural and Community HealthHealth

Suicide rates among persons > age 14: US 1996-98Suicide rates among persons > age 14: US 1996-98

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

All Men Women

ALL

Urban

Suburban

Small

Rural

Isolated

Rural Workforce -- What works??Rural Workforce -- What works??

Institutional missionInstitutional mission Rural backgroundRural background Rural trainingRural training Family medicine specialtyFamily medicine specialty Proximity of familyProximity of family Good K-12 schoolsGood K-12 schools Favorable practice environmentFavorable practice environment

Prepared by West Texas AHEC Program Office, February 2004

(Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center)

Overcoming distancesOvercoming distances

It’s about more It’s about more than just access than just access

to care.to care.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsObesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1990BRFSS, 1990

Source: Mokdad A H, et al. J Am Med Assoc 1999;282:16, 2001;286:10.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsObesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1995BRFSS, 1995

Source: Mokdad A H, et al. J Am Med Assoc 1999;282:16, 2001;286:10.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsObesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2000BRFSS, 2000

Source: Mokdad A H, et al. J Am Med Assoc 1999;282:16, 2001;286:10.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsObesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2001BRFSS, 2001

Source: Mokdad A H, et al. J Am Med Assoc 1999;282:16, 2001;286:10.

Obesity among adults >17, US, 1997-98 by level of Obesity among adults >17, US, 1997-98 by level of urbanizationurbanization

0

5

10

15

20

25

All Men Women

ALL

Urban

Suburban

Small

Rural

Isolated

Obesity among rural persons > 17 by regionObesity among rural persons > 17 by region

18.5

19

19.5

20

20.5

21

21.5

22

All Northeast Midwest South West

Percent

Keys to making a differenceKeys to making a difference

CreativityCreativity Practical solutionPractical solution Beware of unintended consequencesBeware of unintended consequences