How Investing in Rural Health is A Win-Win for Communities and Businesses
DARSH PATEL – When you think of rural healthcare, what comes to mind? Maybe small clinics with hardworking providers doing their best with limited resources. That’s the reality for millions of people living in underserved areas, however, it is also where amazing organizations like the Lake Country Rural Health Initiative (LCRHI) step in to make a huge difference.
LCRHI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare access in rural areas, where disparities are often the greatest. According to the National Rural Health Association, rural Americans are more likely to die from preventable conditions like heart disease or diabetes compared to those living in urban areas, mostly because of limited access to medical resources. Organizations like LCRHI are tackling these challenges head-on by offering free screening clinics, supporting research, and connecting underserved populations with the care they need. These efforts don’t just save lives; investing in rural health has massive benefits for the entire community and businesses partnering with these efforts. Here’s how:
Healthy people make better workers. This might sound simple, but the impact is huge. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic conditions due to diabetes or high blood pressure can lead to absenteeism and reduced productivity. In addition, in rural areas where jobs are more manually demanding, such as in agriculture or manufacturing, the non-treatment of such sicknesses can highly affect business and economic activities within an area. Organizations like the LCRHI take such a burden off by delivering preventive care, such as screenings for early signs and symptoms of chronic conditions. Catching these issues early keeps people out of the hospital meaning for local businesses, fewer disruptions, and higher employee output for better profits.
One of the biggest expenses in healthcare comes from preventable emergency room visits. Rural residents rely on emergency care because they lack access to regular healthcare providers. According to the Rural Health Information Hub, investing in preventative care can drastically reduce these costs. For example, managing conditions like high blood pressure through free screenings, like the ones LCRHI offers, prevents costly hospitalizations down the road.
For businesses, this cost reduction matters. Employers often bear some of the financial burden of healthcare, whether through insurance premiums or lost productivity. When communities invest in preventative care, businesses observe an increase in savings too. This money can then be reinvested into employee training, innovation, and expanding the business.
There’s a less obvious but equally important benefit: better healthcare systems make rural areas more attractive places to live and work. Businesses considering opening in rural areas often look at the availability of medical services as a key factor. According to a report from the American Hospital Association, strong local healthcare infrastructure leads to increased business investment and job creation. Imagine a company considering opening a new manufacturing plant in a rural area; if potential employees know they’ll have access to quality healthcare through organizations like LCRHI, they’re more likely to move there. This creates a win-win: businesses gain access to a healthier, more stable workforce, and communities see economic growth from new jobs and investments.
Businesses don’t just benefit from improved rural healthcare, they can play an active role in making it happen. Partnering with organizations like LCRHI allows companies to align with their social responsibility goals while making a real impact. For example, healthcare technology companies can collaborate with LCRHI to introduce tools like telemedicine platforms or portable diagnostic devices. These partnerships help by opening up new markets for the businesses involved, while also allowing for better patient care. Similarly, large corporations with rural employees can fund initiatives like free screening clinics, which directly benefit their workforce. When rural communities thrive, the businesses within them grow, creating a cycle that benefits everyone. That’s the win-win of investing in rural health: healthier people lead to healthier businesses, and healthier businesses lead to healthier communities.
If you are inspired by the work LCRHI does, there are many ways to get involved in advancing their mission. You can volunteer your time, donate, or spread the word about their amazing impact. Even the simplest things, like sharing personal experiences with social media, and drawing attention to rural healthcare financing, can make quite a difference. In light of the efforts brought up by organizations like LCRHI, people are reminded that improving rural health not only saves lives today and in the years ahead but also plants roots across America for a safer tomorrow, with more options in places than ever before imagined possible under one roof.
Copy Editor – Ruth Stoia