In this episode of "This is Rural Health," we continue our special series featuring excerpts from the 2023 California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA) annual conference.

We were privileged to have Brock Slabach, the Chief Operating Officer of the National Rural Health Association, discuss federal updates, future programs, and the unique challenges rural communities face. Brock shared insights into the impact of structural urbanism on rural health policies, the vital role of community-based care, and the powerful influence of political and commercial determinants on public health. 

With compelling insights and a call to action for stronger advocacy, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about advancing rural healthcare and making a difference in underserved communities.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Brock outlines the latest federal updates and research initiatives aimed at enhancing rural health
• Brock emphasizes the unique challenges faced by rural areas, which cover 80% of the U.S. land but house only 17-20% of the population
• Importance of rural communities in producing essential resources: food, fuel, and fiber
• Historical Disadvantages: Brock discusses how public policy has historically disadvantaged rural healthcare
• Structural Urbanism: The challenge of designing policies based on urban settings, which often overlook the needs of rural communities
• Agency and Advocacy: Brock stresses the need for strong advocacy to secure resources and fight structural urbanism
• Community-Based Care: Moving away from institutional-based models to focus on community-centered healthcare
• Brock highlights traditional social determinants and introduces political and commercial drivers of health
• Political Determinants: Impact of Medicaid expansion and other policy decisions on rural health equity
• Commercial Interests: Influence of industries like tobacco, food, and fossil fuels on public health and policy
• Call to Action: Encouragement for rural health professionals to engage in advocacy, policy-making, and community collaboration to improve rural health outcomes

The CSRHA has been a go-to resource for rural healthcare and community leaders since 1995. The CSRHA brings an accumulation of actionable insights to the next generation of rural healthcare leaders. 

For more behind the scenes of this podcast follow @CSRHApodcast on Twitter or @csrha.advocate on Facebook.

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Learn more about the CSRHA at csrha.org.