HRMC Partners to Celebrate National Rural Health Day

Varnville, SC (November 22, 2019) - Hampton Regional Medical Center (HRMC) joined the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and other state/national rural stakeholders in celebrating National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on Thursday, November 21, 2019.

NRHD - an annual day of recognition which occurs on the third Thursday of November - is an opportunity to celebrate the "Power of Rural" by honoring the selfless, community-minded, "can do" spirit that prevails in rural America. It also provides a chance to bring to light the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face and showcase the efforts of rural healthcare providers.

Events recognizing National Rural Health Day and "Celebrating the Power of Rural" were planned throughout the nation. HRMC marked the occasion by hosting a presentation at a local senior center in Hampton County. Niki Goodson, Critical Care Manager for HRMC, spoke about HRMC's Telestroke Program, offered in collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She also shared pertinent information in relation to stroke, such as risk factors, signs/symptoms, and the need for prompt treatment. As November is also American Diabetes Month, Sarah Lyn Tuten, HRMC Dietary Director, provided tips on how seniors may reduce their risk for developing complications due to diabetes, such as heart disease or stroke. She also treated them to a healthy snack.


An estimated 57 million people - nearly one in five Americans - live in rural and frontier communities throughout the United States. "These small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are wonderful places to live and work; they are places where neighbors know each other and work together," says Teryl Eisinger, NOSORH CEO. "The hospitals and providers serving these rural communities not only provide quality patient care, but they also help keep good jobs in rural America."

These communities also face unique healthcare needs. "Today more than ever, rural communities must tackle accessibility issues, a lack of healthcare providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens," Eisinger says. "Meanwhile, rural hospitals are threatened with declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels that make it challenging to serve their residents."


State Offices of Rural Health play a key role in addressing those needs. All 50 states maintain a State Office of Rural Health, each of which shares a similar mission: to foster relationships, disseminate information and provide technical assistance that improves access to, and the quality of, health care for its rural citizens.

Additional information about National Rural Health Day can be found at PowerofRural.org. To learn more about NOSORH, visit www.nosorh.org