Need For Rural Physicians

I can remember when doctors made house calls. I’m not as old as you think, this was in the late sixties, early seventies. It could be because I grew up in a rural community fortunate enough to have not one, but three and sometimes four doctors in town. Now it’s a struggle for rural communities to even have one doctor close by. In response to the need for primary care physicians in rural communities, rural medical education programs have started to crop up around the country. The goal is to recruit students with rural backgrounds so they will understand what it’s like to grow up in a rural community. These med students also take supplemental curriculum, focusing on issues more pertinent to rural doctors. Many newly graduated doctors will not consider rural areas because the economy tends to be poor, creating a vicious circle; because in order to improve the local economy a community needs adequate medical services. Hopefully more young doctors will realize that money isn’t everything. Rural physicians do make a good living, but perhaps the trust, prestige, sense of community, and the realization that a greater need is being met holds even greater value.