Recommendations for improving the rural mental health infrastructure are offered. This paper outlines the priority areas set forth by the NRHA's Rural Minority Health Committee to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities, also addressed in President Clinton's Initiative on Race. The purpose of this agenda is to address access gaps and the growing disparities in health status indicators for rural minority populations. This paper discusses the need for accurrate interpretation of data tracking the unique patterns and occurrances of disease and health needs within rural minority populations. This paper describes the shortage of health professinals in underserved communities, and the fact that health care providers from underrepresented communities are more likely to provide care to underserved patient populations.
Ethnic minorities are woefully underrepresented in the ranks of ealth care professionals.
Also discussed is a removal of barriers preventing successful underrepresented students from pursuing health care careers. Suggests various strategies and action steps to reduce this disparity, as well as several policy recommendations. This issue paper explores the current status of factors leading to physician choice of practice location, including education, training, government and private initiatives, and economic and social conditions. Policy recommendations to support the recruitment and retention of physicians to America's underserved rural areas are presented. This issue paper presents the NRHA's position that data generated by national population-based surveys, including counties of residence, should be accessible to researchers investigating issues of importance to the health of rural residents.