Medical providers in small towns and communities are not always available everyday — with some providers and specialists traveling from and working in several areas. For patients, this means week-long waits for appointments or hour-long drives to bigger cities. It’s an issue that earlier this year caught the attention of Hastings College students Catie Reed, Jenna Sterling and Myah Brown.
All three are from rural communities — Reed from Adams, Nebraska; Sterling from Scottsbluff, Nebraska; and Brown from Grand Island, Nebraska. The availability of providers impacted each of their healthcare experiences growing up. They collaborated on a project to address the ongoing issue with the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in underserved communities, and came up with ways to help solve the problem.
Reed, a pre-pharmacy chemistry major; Sterling, a pre-dental biology major; and Brown, a pre-medicine biology major who graduated in May, expressed their passion and concern when it comes to healthcare and providing for others.
They took their research and presented it during the College’s Academic Showcase in late April. Academic Showcase, during which classes are cancelled, is a chance for students to share their passions and to show off their impressive work.
Their Academic Showcase presentation highlighted issues with quality healthcare in the rural areas of Nebraska.
“I have been passionate about rural healthcare since high school, but one of my peers, Jenna Sterling, inspired me to shed light on this problem in this way. Myah and I were immediately onboard,” said Reed.
Healthcare is vital to everyone’s quality of life, yet Reed, Sterling and Brown found that federal and state agencies note there are shortages of medical professionals in rural Nebraska. Many may not realize the urgency of this issue, but Reed and her peer’s research highlights its importance.
“Some specialties have as few as zero to one provider for every 10,000 residents,” Reed said. “A solution needs to happen quickly or we risk allowing rural areas to fall further behind, leaving a large part of our population with nothing.”
The importance of healthcare pushed the three to suggest solutions to this issue in hopes of benefitting not only Nebraska, but the entire country.
Reed emphasized this issue is prominent in all underserved communities across America. The group found that proactive recruitment, mentorship and working with educational institutions will help these communities and contribute to the growth and sustainability of the larger population.
“When people have access to healthcare close to home, they’re more likely to stay, raise families and contribute locally,” Reed said.
With plans on becoming a healthcare provider herself, Reed said she decided to use Hastings College as an educational stepping stone in order to do so. She plans on returning to a rural area to be part of the solution. Her dedication and passion towards this subject will create a positive impact not only on her community, but her career.
“Providing quality healthcare also takes recognition of the bigger picture and what challenges people can face when coming to a provider. In knowing this now I will be able to empathize with other professionals in my field and understand that building connections with them is an important part in keeping them in rural communities,” Reed said.
Reed, Sterling and Brown want to spread awareness to try and help underserved communities and strive for a solution that will benefit all.
“Awareness can start with just conversation,” Reed said. “Simply talking about rural healthcare access and the challenges providers face can help reduce stigma and bring attention to the issue. The more people who understand this issue, the greater chance we have of creating meaningful change.”
