The International Rural Nursing and Rural Health conference title– “The Canopy of Health Care for Rural and Underserved Populations: Strengthening the Root System”—invites participants to explore and analyze all aspects of the concepts of “canopy” –from worldwide issues of health promotion and disease prevention, lack of attention to chronic illness and mental health, as well as workforce issues in rural health care.
Health care is a system – not as one hierarchical unit like a tree with an anchoring trunk and connecting branches, more like a forest of trees with overlapping canopies and intertwined roots. In urban areas, the “forest” is denser and easier to perceive as an integrated entity. The rural canopy may be thinner, and spread out over more space and the “root systems” are more intertwined making it harder to clearly define boundaries and relationships. The rural connections are no less real and often strong where people depend on community, on each other, through informal networks with fewer health care providers. Keeping these root systems strong for rural and underserved populations is a challenge. The strength of these systems and the canopy of health care provided require a variety of health care providers, researchers and educators addressing problems from multiple perspectives, working together, and dedicated to the care of rural and underserved populations.
Adapted from the work of Karen L. Zanni, MSN, Doctoral student, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University.
Come be a part of this conference. Nationally and internationally known leaders in Rural Nursing, Sociology, and Health Care will present their work.
Learn: how we are strengthening health care for rural and underserved populations; about resources available in dealing with ethical dilemmas in the health care of rural and underserved populations; what new programs are emerging to help resolve the rural health care workforce issues; and about the latest research programs regarding health issues of rural and underserved populations.
Cosponsored by the Rural Nurse Organization (RNO) and the Decker School of Nursing; Binghamton University
