● Work with the Leading to Equitable Access to Health Professions (LEAHP) program, an element of Duke University School of Nursing Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and collaboration with local HBCUs, The LEAHP program provides mentorship and other resources that support students from underrepresented ethnic groups to ultimately attend advanced practice nursing programs. Started by HRSA, LEAHP encourages students to give back to their communities, emphasizing caring for the underserved.
● Take advantage of tax credits available through the Federal New Markets Tax Credit Program from the U.S. Treasury in exchange for equity investments in low-income communities. Hospitals can use their own funds or encourage partners to invest in rural health programs, such as the Academic Community Health Centers and Rural Health Hub launched by North Carolina Central University in conjunction with Stonehenge Community Development and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance.
● Look into government programs such as HRSA grants, the National Rural Transit Assistance Program, and state offerings.

What communities can do

Hospitals are key healthcare providers, but they don’t operate in a vacuum. The communities that surround them also have a role to play and ways to improve the lives of their residents. They can:

● Connect with area providers to create or participate in rural health hubs. Fostering a working relationship increases exposure and helps all participants to expand their reach to a broader population.
● Collaborate with local or nearby nursing schools, especially those with RN-to-BSN programs. These programs typically expose nursing students to rural health clinics through their community health practicum. Additionally, Traditional BSN programs often include innovative initiatives such as mobile health clinics as part of the community health courses' clinical experience to serve rural and underserved populations.
● Conduct needs assessments to understand the community's needs and strategize interventions to maximize enhanced health outcomes. Be sure to cast a wide net to reach as many community members as possible.
● Develop win-win campaigns based on the assessment and in conjunction with a local nursing school to find the most effective way to serve the needs of both the community and the school. Health fairs and other community education activities are perfect examples of serving both entities.

Hope for the future
Given the current state of rural healthcare, it would certainly be easy to develop a pessimistic perspective. But government and academic efforts already underway highlight what is possible. The establishment of the CDC’s Office of Rural Health and the TEAMS Act, as well as collaboration between nursing schools and the creation of rural health hubs are signs of what can happen when stakeholders unite to address the problem. Since these programs are in their infancy, their effects are yet to be realized. However, bringing attention and resources to the problem increases the probability of improved rural health access and enhanced outcomes. Witnessing the lightbulb go on when patients feel empowered regarding their health can be a mutually rewarding experience.

About the author: Dr. Marquita Lyons-Smith is a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and director of the RN-BSN Nursing Program at North Carolina Central University.

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