Initial results of HRSA-supported research evaluating how local public health agencies in rural America operate found that these organizations greatly need more nurses, health educators and environmental scientists. Environmental scientists analyze instances of contamination and determine their threat to public health.

Part of a cooperative agreement between HRSA and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the research also found that:

• rural local public health agencies provide more traditional services such as obstetrical, gynecological and well-child care than urban agencies; and that
• large and small towns in rural areas are more similar than expected in terms of services offered and needed.

Researchers reached their conclusions after comparing rural and urban data contained in a 1999-2000 survey of local public health department officials. That survey, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provided a detailed breakdown of the U.S. public health workforce, its services and its programs -- such as those involving chronic and communicable disease and environmental health.

Of the more than 3,000 local public health agencies nationwide, 60 percent represent non-metropolitan areas, as defined by HHS’ Office of Management and Budget.

For more information on HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy, visit www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov For a broad view of the nation’s local public health agency workforce, go to NACCHO’s Local Public Health Agency Infrastructure: A Chartbook (http://www.naccho.org/general428.cfm). The Chartbook also based its findings on the Johnson Foundation survey.

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