COVID-19 Reveals Emerging Opportunities for Rural Public Health

During COVID-19, rural areas have seen greater mortality rates and more problems delivering services. This article discusses the challenges rural health departments have faced and the opportunities to use technology to mitigate those challenges. Challenges include the disproportionately low funding the rural health departments receive. Opportunities include departments scheduling electronic public health appointments (such as WIC recertifications), as well as working to expand their partnerships with partners across the state and rethink statewide allocation of public health funding.

Resource Details

• Geographic Areas of Implementation: Rural
• Topics of Practice: Policy Change/ Development
• Outcomes of Interest: Improve Organizational Infrastructure|Partnership Building
• Level of Evidence: Emerging
• Tools or Materials Included in Resource: No
• Social Determinants of Health: Social and Community Context
• Outside of US: No