Rural Health in the New Millenium

Outlook challenging in Nebraska

44 counties with doc and hospital, less than 10,000 people
NE is last in the nation in public and mental health resources per capita, not even close to the others
Smaller communities face challenges
Agriculture situation - further federal info on counties in Nebraska
Health Services cutbacks - Balanced Budget 17% cuts
Hospital conversions, closures

Major Challenges for All in Health Care

Chaos in insurance, Medicare, welfare
Increasing competition
Unprecedented federal regulatory efforts New forms, audits, alleged fraud

Educational decisions by the state

Consolidations
Consequences of cuts in state college system

The Question: Why Do We Have So Few People in Rural NE Age 25-44?

Combination of decisions of young people
Your community’s efforts
State policies that you can change – consolidation and centralization

An Appeal to Students - Small Towns Need You

You are their future
They need your leadership
Health systems planning
Recruitment and retention of all young professionals
Education
New jobs and quality of life

A Second Appeal: The State and the Nation Need Your Rural Values

Now more than ever

Rural Values

work ethic
work together, work locally
personal
agree to disagree but live together
practical, problem solving attitude

How Do We Get Values As Well As Rural Citizens?

Make sure rural kids get leadership training. Make sure rural young people value their towns and connect to them.

Oppose school consolidation that disrupts these

Make sure that the feeder schools for rural leaders, the state’s small colleges, can still prepare the state’s professionals AND facilitate their return to rural Nebraska

More Rural Professionals of All Types

Vote early and often
Support existing rural systems
Strengthen rural communities and colleges

Discussion

To current teachers and community leaders: How Will the Increasing Availability of Technology Impact Education and Health Care and is your community, your school, ready?

To the students - Are You Driven By the Need to SERVE or the Need to Have an Intellectual Challenge and What Does That Mean for Rural Nebraska?