Liz Urbanski-Farrell is a journalist who has devoted her career to improving health outcomes for rural residents, both in the United States and beyond. As the new executive director of the New York State Association for Rural Health, she highlighted the fact that 44 of New York state’s 63 counties are at least partially rural, covering 85% of the state’s land area, particularly in upstate regions.
Accessing healthcare in rural areas can be challenging for many residents due to the distance to healthcare facilities. This requires individuals to take time off work and incur travel expenses to receive care. While telehealth has provided some solutions, it can be more expensive due to infrastructure and privacy requirements. Furthermore, traditional health services in New York have not seen increased funding in recent years, making it difficult to meet the growing healthcare needs of rural communities.
Urbanski-Farrell believes that increased support from the state Legislature and Congress is crucial to address funding gaps in rural healthcare. She believes that investing in rural healthcare now will ultimately lead to cost savings in the long run. Improving access to quality healthcare in rural areas remains a critical issue that requires attention and support at both the state and federal levels.