National Rural Health Day: Driving Equitable Care Access
Key Facts:
- About 46 million people (14% of the U.S. population) live in rural counties.
- Rural hospitals closed at 2x the rate of urban facilities between 2010-2023.
- Rural residents are 40% more likely to develop heart disease and 20% more likely to die from preventable injuries.
- Telehealth can reduce rural no-show rates by up to 25%, improving chronic-care follow-up.
Editor's Note
This article is part of the BHM Healthcare Awareness Series, designed to provide quick, ready-to-use content and links to official resources for internal staff communications, patient education, and social media.
Feel free to copy, adapt, and share.
Observation Date
Third Thursday of November
History & Impact
Launched in 2011 by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), National Rural Health Day celebrates the “Power of Rural.” Each November, partners across government, industry, and community health highlight rural innovators, raise awareness of persistent access gaps, and promote policy solutions, from critical access hospital funding to broadband-enabled telehealth. The observance has grown into a nationwide movement engaging all 50 state offices of rural health, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, and hundreds of local events spanning health fairs, proclamation signings, and social-media campaigns.
Why it Matters
Rural Americans face higher mortality from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, and maternal complications than their urban peers, often driven by workforce shortages and distance to care. For healthcare leaders, National Rural Health Day offers a timely platform to reinforce community partnerships, advance value-based strategies, and strengthen organizational ESG commitments to health equity.
Quick Actions for Your Organization
For Leadership
Integrate rural-specific metrics into population-health dashboards (e.g., readmissions, broadband access).
Pursue HRSA Community Health Access & Rural Transformation (CHART) Model funding to pilot value-based payment.
Formalize partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers and EMS to coordinate emergency transport and tele-ED coverage.
For Implementation Teams
Download and brand the NOSORH #PowerofRural social graphics for internal newsletters and LinkedIn.
Host a virtual grand-rounds panel on rural maternal health, inviting local midwives and state office leaders.
Launch a mobile screening day (BP, A1c, flu shots) at a trusted rural site, use CDC Rural Health toolkits for checklists and consent forms.
Resources
Ready-to-Use Assets
The following links provide resources & information for creating internal or external campaigns to support or promote this healthcare observance. Please vet these resources for alignment with your organization.
Talking Points
Copy & Paste Friendly
“Celebrate the #PowerofRural on Nov 20—share how your team is expanding access and equity!”
“Did you know rural residents travel 2× farther for specialty care? Telehealth bridges the gap.”
“Partnering with local EMS and FQHCs drives sustainable rural health outcomes and lowers total cost of care.”
Disclaimer: Please verify all information, usage rights, and related guidelines with the official observance organizers and your organization’s policies to ensure proper alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. How do health systems organize a National Rural Health Day campaign across multiple states?
Create a shared asset hub (logos, social graphics), appoint a “Power of Rural” champion at each facility, set common KPIs (telehealth visits, mobile-screening counts, and social-media reach), and report outcomes in one enterprise dashboard.
Q2. What KPIs prove ROI for rural health initiatives on National Rural Health Day?
Track avoidable ER visits, chronic-disease control rates (A1c, blood pressure), miles of patient travel saved through telehealth, new value-based contracts signed, and earned-media impressions from #PowerOfRural campaigns.
Q3. How can hospitals boost frontline staff engagement in National Rural Health Day activities?
Offer micro-learning credits on rural health disparities, highlight staff stories on social channels, tie participation to wellness incentives, and recognize high-impact teams during an internal “Rural Health Champion” awards livestream.
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