RESEARCHERS LOOKING AT DIFFICULTIES ACCESSING HEALTH CARE IN RURAL MISSOURI

A new University of Missouri study is looking at health inequalities in rural Missouri. The study found that health care organizations are beginning to offer basic social services as it helps contributes to someone’s overall health.

Julie Kapp, with the MU College of Health Sciences, said her research shows that health care organizations need to change their approach to improving the health outcomes of rural Americans by providing basic services.

“There’s so many facets of our life that are affected by or affect healthcare,” Kapp said. “That might be things like transportation. If you can’t get to your job or you can’t get to your doctor, that’s going to affect your health. It might be things like food insecurity. If you can’t eat three square meals a day, how are you supposed to take your medicine that tells you to take your medicine on a full stomach?”