Nov 12, 2018
In celebration of National Rural Health Day on November 15, Michelle chats with Karen Madden, Director of the Charles D. Cook Office of Rural Health, Center for Health Care Policy and Resource Development, New York State Department of Health, and Founder of National Rural Health Day; Teryl Eisinger, Executive Director of the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health; and Dr. David Sabgir, Founder & CEO of Walk with a Doc. Eisinger notes that Natural Rural Health Day started about a decade ago as a way of garnering attention to the good work done by stakeholders in rural health and to the disparities that exist in rural communities. Eisinger discusses the value of the organic partnerships focusing on the needs of rural constituents, specifically citing the Community Star program, which this year has more than 100 nominations. Madden discusses the honor of winning the National Rural Health Association award and the significance of the slogan her organization coined —The Power of Rural. Sabgir talks about the importance of physical activity, including the recent study by the Cleveland Clinic, and why his program provides the follow-up needed to better ensure patients actually participate in physical activity. There are now 431 chapters of Walk with a Doc in the United States, he notes, deploying the one-hour walk with a care provider—resulting in demonstrable positive outcomes. Eisinger and Madden also provide specific examples of the interconnection between rural health activities, and rural schools and education, and business. This episode is sponsored by AASA, the School Superintendent’s Association, www.aasa.org