As we have worked with clients several questions are routinely asked. Here are the answers to many of those questions.
1. Is Rural Health Futures' a healthcare consulting firm?
Yes and no! Our efforts in rural communities began with healthcare, but as the dynamics of rural communities changed so did the mission of Rural Health Futures. Today, Rural Health Futures views the "health" of rural communities in its broadest, most realistic perspective. How do we measure the health of a particular rural community. It is certainly not a singular look at the healthcare provided to the community's citizens. The "health" of a rural community is measured in its economic health, the health of its educational system, a healthy community vision of its future, a healthy pride in the community's unique qualities, a sound healthcare system, a healthy infrastructure that will permit the community to achieve its long term strategy and a healthy commitment to the changes faced by rural communities.
For instance, our development of the Rural Telecommunity Center and desire to see this type of business spring up in rural regions around the country comes from the belief that advanced technology and telecommunications can play a part in creating a successful infrastructure to support efforts at creating "healthy" communities. The Center has always been envisioned as a business that directly contributes to the health of the local economy and indirectly supports other efforts in education, healthcare, business, and government while also supporting the growth of individuals. Once this infrastructure is in place, Rural Health Futures' goals are to continue to work with the healthcare providers and other health agencies in the area to effectively accomplish some of the changes those entities are facing. As expected, just as the health of a rural community is a long term characteristics, so is our commitment to see that Rural Health Futures plays a role in achieving this long term health.
2. How long has Rural Health Futures been in business and working with rural communities?
We began operation as Rural Health Futures, Inc. in November 1994. But that doesn't tell the whole story. At the time Rural Health Futures, Inc. was a reflection of the combined efforts of Solutions Plus, Inc. and key individuals from the Onaga, Kansas healthcare system. Solutions Plus, Inc. had started in 1991 and had developed a national reputation in rural healthcare issues and specifically Telemedicine. The Onaga healthcare system was recognized nationally as a model of rural healthcare delivery. The key staff in Onaga had a desire to see a similar successful rural healthcare delivery system created in other rural areas. Consequently, the staffs of the two organizations combined. The result was a level of experience in both technology and healthcare that spanned more than twenty years in everyday applications. It also brought together a group of individuals who were currently living in small rural communities or who had grown up in small, farming/ranching rural communities. In August 1996 Rural Health Futures, Inc. again made a structural change that was a reflection of the communities we were working with and the needs of these communities. Rural Health Futures, Inc. became essentially a virtual company that is based on an understanding of technology and the overall perspective of rural health. Rural Health Futures is then supported by key experts serving as affiliates that address specific issues faced by rural communities. This new structure allows Rural Health Futures, Inc. to provide a team approach to the specific needs faced by a particular community or region.
3. What is the key advice Rural Health Futures gives to its clients?
Commit to change. Our greatest disappointment is to see rural communities who pursue advanced technologies and telecommunications as an end rather than as the "means" to an end. For example, we've talked with many communities who have acquired technologies and telecommunications as part of grants who are now faced with the realization that they cannot afford the systems once the grant dollars cease. At the same time many other communities subscribed to the "build it and they will come" theory. What occurred was a hope that the technology would cause the change to take place. Our belief and commitment to each rural community we work with is that the technology will support the changes needed to create these "healthy" rural communities as long as we and your community partner to change your business, healthcare delivery system, education, and government services. For each of you who have made an investment in some type of technology and telecommunications through private funds or grant sources and are now worried about the long term affordability of these investments there is hope. The affordability of these systems first requires that you recognize that you've fallen into the infamous technology trap. While you have struggled to understand the terminology and all the minute details your focus shifted to the "how" if your solution. It was fun because it was new and the technology was almost unbelievable. The secret though was to remain focused on "what" you were going to do differently once the technology arrived and "who" needed to change "what" they were doing. Unfortunately, now that you have the technology you've found that it has an insatiable appetite for money. We're anxious to work with you to quickly return to the "what" and "who" of the solution, but the key will be your commitment to change.
For additional information contact Kelli Schneider @ (970) 207-9798 or
E-mail address ptc@socencom.net