Rural Health Issues
The Shasta Health Assessment and Redesign Collaborative (SHARC) works to improve rural health outcomes and address rural health issues in Shasta County.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
From the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion:
“Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Examples of SDOH include:
Safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods
Racism, discrimination, and violence
Education, job opportunities, and income
Access to nutritious foods and physical activity opportunities
Polluted air and water
Language and literacy skills
SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don’t have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition. That raises their risk of health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity — and even lowers life expectancy relative to people who do have access to healthy foods.
Just promoting healthy choices won’t eliminate these and other health disparities. Instead, public health organizations and their partners in sectors like education, transportation, and housing need to take action to improve the conditions in people’s environments.
That’s why Healthy People 2030 has an increased and overarching focus on SDOH.”
Rural Health Care Challenges
From the Rural Health Information Hub:
“Rural residents often encounter barriers to healthcare that limit their ability to obtain the care they need. Access to healthcare implies that healthcare services are available and obtainable in a timely manner. Even when an adequate supply of healthcare services exists in the community, there are other factors that may impede healthcare access. For instance, to have healthcare access, rural residents must also have:
Financial means to pay for services, such as health or dental insurance that is accepted by the provider
Means to reach and use services, such as transportation to services that may be located at a distance, and the ability to take paid time off of work to utilize services
Confidence in their ability to communicate with healthcare providers, particularly if the patient is not fluent in English or has limited health literacy
Trust that they can use services without compromising privacy
Confidence that they will receive quality care”
Health Outcomes in the Far Northern California
“Population health and well-being is something we create as a society, not something an individual can attain in a clinic or be responsible for alone. Health is more than being free from disease and pain; health is the ability to thrive. Well-being covers both quality of life and the ability of people and communities to contribute to the world. Population health involves optimal physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being.”
Healthy People 2030
From the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) are a small subset of high-priority Healthy People 2030 objectives selected to drive action toward improving health and well-being. As a set, LHIs cover the life span and include objectives across topic areas. Most LHIs address important factors that impact major causes of death and disease in the United States, and they help organizations, communities, and states across the nation focus their resources and efforts to improve the health and well-being of all people. Healthy People 2030 includes 23 LHIs.
And to learn how LHIs are connected to other Healthy People objectives and the Healthy People 2030 vision, check out our Healthy People 2030 Objectives and Measures graphic.