RURAL PRIMARY-CARE

This overview of rural health cam today shows the role that internal m edicine can and should play in delivering primary care to rural popula tions. The American College of Physicians recommends changes to improv e access to and delivery of primary care in rural areas. There are six specific recommendations. 1. Implementing universal health care cover age through a system that makes primary care equally affordable to rur al populations. 2. Increasing the supply of primary care providers in rural areas by lessening specialty and geographic differentials in phy sician income. 3. Increasing the supply of primary care providers in r ural areas by changing medical education to emphasize training enough rural physicians. 4. Decreasing professional: isolation in rural areas through accessible continuing medical education and through telecommu nications technology. 5. Identifying tertiary care needs at the commun ity level and using state and federal funds to assist rural hospitals where access to care would be threatened by hospital closure. 6. Using innovative delivery systems that emphasize coordination and cooperati on among providers, institutions, and communities.