Rural Medicine

Due to the location of many rural communities, it is very challenging for rural patients to easily access many specialist physicians who typically practice in more urban centres. Travel away from a community removes patients from their support systems, induces financial burdens and can create safety concerns for patients, especially in the winter months. Telemedicine provides a cost-effective solution to improve access to care closer to home. Thus, if the option is available, and in consultation with the patient, physicians should consider utilizing telemedicine.

Another option is to have the out-of-town specialist communicate with the local physician who can provide follow up care. Local physicians should receive explicit detailed instructions as to what issues need to be addressed, and the appropriate time frame for follow-up.

In 2018, for every billion kilometers travelled by a motor vehicle in Canada there were 4.9 fatalities and 390 total injuries (including 24.2 serious injuries). The risk of travel in rural communities is greater than urban areas. Despite rural areas accounting for only 18% of the population, 54% of fatal motor vehicle collisions in Canada occur on rural roads. The danger of rural roads has been attributed to multiple factors including greater distances to medical facilities, inclement weather, higher speed limits, animal crossings, poor lighting, and poor maintenance.

Screening is important for disease prevention. It is important to weigh the risk of transportation with the benefit of the test, patient specific risk factors and patient preferences. Arranging screening tests when the patient is already visiting the centre for another reason is efficient.

Advanced care planning is an important part of primary care to establish individual patient’s goals of care. This is especially true for rural patients who may need to be transferred to an alternate community for care.

Studies have shown that rural patients prefer to die in their home communities. It is important to consider the patient’s goals when contemplating sending them away from the community for medical treatment at the end of life. If the patient is transferred to an alternate community, ensure an updated, written advanced directive accompanies them to the receiving community.

Health personnel are valuable resources in rural communities. It is important that provider well-being is balanced with optimal patient care, especially where human resources are limited.

Health personnel are valuable resources in rural communities. Sending a nurse or physician en route to an urban centre can leave a rural hospital without medical support for significant periods of time. Consider the evidence when deciding whether a patient needs to be accompanied during transport. Consider calling the receiving hospital to mutually agree on the need for skilled personnel during urgent or emergent transport.