CELEBRATING THE POWER OF RURAL

National Rural Health Day

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day.

National Rural Health Day (NRHD) is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded spirit that prevails in rural America. NRHD showcases the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face today and into the future.

#powerofrural

Rural Communities, Economic Engines

Rural communities are wonderful places to live and work, which is why nearly 61 million people call them home. These small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are places where neighbors know each other, listen to each other, respect each other, and work together to benefit the greater good. They are also some of the best places to start a business and test your “entrepreneurial spirit.” These communities are an economic engine that provide the rest of the country with a wealth of services and commodities.

NRHD IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE

The selfless, community-minded spirit of rural America

These rural communities also have unique healthcare needs. Today more than ever, rural communities must address accessibility issues, a lack of healthcare providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens. Rural hospitals – which are often the economic foundation of their communities in addition to being the primary providers of care – struggle daily as declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels make it challenging to serve their residents.

2022 IMPACT STATEMENT

It's more than a day, it's a movement!

Over the past decade, NRHD has transformed a day-long event into a sustainable movement, as evidenced by engaging a broad national audience of policymakers, program funders, partners, and practitioners.

Want to understand the impact of National Rural Health Day? Read our report on all the ways we’ve transformed a single day event into an ongoing national #PowerofRural movement.

THE ANCHOR OF INFORMATION (SORH)

State Offices ofRural Health

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) is the membership association of the nation’s 50 State Offices of Rural Health (SORH).  SORHs are anchors of information and support for rural communities, health professionals, hospitals, and clinics across the nation. They are dedicated to improve health in small towns around the country through: