What public health services are provided in rural areas?
Local health departments in rural areas of the United States provide a variety of services to their communities. These services may include direct clinical services, immunizations, chronic disease prevention, emergency response planning and environmental health. Each locality is different. Rural communities that do not have a local health department are likely to have fewer public health services available. Communities each adapt in their own way, with other agencies, local hospitals and providers stepping forward to address some or all of the public health needs. Regionalization has been effective and is being considered in some parts of the country. Although accreditation is voluntary, a series of domains and standards are being developed to clarify expectations of local health departments. The goal of the accreditation program is to improve and protect the health of every community by advancing the quality and performance of public health departments.
