BEST PRACTICES
BY KAREN APPOLD
Rural Medicine A look at common challenges and creative solutions for health care professionals working in rural settings. Providing care in a rural setting is full of rewards and challenges for Danielle Howa Pendergrass, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP. “The joy of living and working in a community with social cohesion is incomparable,” says the president and clinician at Eastern Utah Women’s Health in Price, Utah. Lori Moseley, DNP, FNP-BC, CDE, a nurse practitioner at MinuteClinic in Lancaster, S.C., agrees. “I live in this community and have worked here for seven years, so I know many of the people who come in for care,” she says. “And if I don’t know them personally, I usually know someone who does. Because of that, my patients trust me,” which makes them more likely to follow medical advice. It’s not always easy, though, and finances often crop up as a barrier to care.
CONVENIENT CARE CLINICIAN
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The Cost of Care For Dr. Moseley’s patients, like many patients in rural areas, the cost of care is a significant barrier. After a visit, it can be difficult for some patients to afford needed prescriptions, she says, so she’s ready to help. “Often, I pull out my phone, find their medicine, and show them the prices,” she says. “I ask if they can afford a drug before prescribing it.” If they can’t, Dr. Moseley talks to them about online discount programs that can save a substantial sum. “A lot of people don’t know anything about those types of programs,” she says. Many of Dr. Howa Pendergrass’ patients face similar concerns. Most of her patients work in the volatile mining, trucking, and energy industries. “Many families have jobs and insurance one day and are laid off the next,” she says. “As a result, many people simply can’t afford to access health care.” Further, many of her patients have lower socioeconomic status, which comes with “lower health literacy, inability to purchase healthy foods due to food deserts, and no public transportation options.”
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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022
3/16/22 1:24 PM
