Consumer Health Information Series for Library Staff: Rural Health Resources

Evidence shows that there are marked health disparities between those living in rural areas versus their urban counterparts. Not only do rural residents suffer from higher incidence of chronic illness, they also have limited access to primary care services and are more likely to be uninsured or under-insured. This class will describe hallmarks of rural America, identify access challenges of living in rural communities, and equip participants with tools to service the health information needs of those living in rural communities. We will explore websites from the National Library of Medicine, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Rural Health Information Hub and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Each of the websites contains consumer-level information and offers an opportunity for data downloads.

This course is Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and qualifies for one credit towards Consumer Health Information Specialization.