HARTSVILLE, Tenn. – Research indicates rural Tennesseeans are more likely to have chronic diseases, must drive farther if they need specialty medical care, and face other hurdles to getting good healthcare. Bill Mize, CEO of the Trousdale Medical Center - a 25 bed critical-access hospital in Hartsville - says those who live in rural communities rely whenever possible on rural facilities to provide affordable care.



"The thing that's important is that these folks have a point where they can go and get care reasonably quickly, particularly if it's an emergency. The other part is to be able to get access to take care of chronic issues."



Mize predicts the next few years could be stressful for rural healthcare providers if state and federal cuts continue. He says more rural communities are seeing their aging populations increase, and seniors typically become more and more dependent on rural healthcare. They also have other obstacles standing in the way of their healthcare access, explains Mize.



"There are transportation issues – but if we have the service available right here, they will have much more of a tendency to be able to have their support system access their care. Or, they will come here on their own; whereas if they needed to travel a significant distance, they would choose not to do it."



Mize says healthcare access and affordability programs increase as the number of rural residents on Medicare increases. However, he notes one problem in attracting doctors, nurse practitioners and other medical personnel to rural areas is that the Medicare reimbursement rates are lower. He believes equalizing those payments will be key to helping rural healthcare facilities recruit and keep the good healthcare professionals they need.

