Supporting Rural Communities in Louisiana

Addressing Healthcare Challenges in Rural Louisiana

The Well-Ahead Louisiana State Office of Rural Health (SORH) integrates population health strategies within rural communities, supports the development and sustainability of rural care facilities, and advances access to care through innovation. At Well-Ahead, we provide support to address rural communities’ unique healthcare needs. 

Rural communities are faced with accessibility challenges, a limited number of healthcare providers and health disparities. Well-Ahead acts as an anchor of information and support for rural health professionals, hospitals and clinics and coordinates communication, education, collaboration and innovation among these community leaders to improve the health of Louisiana’s rural residents.

In addition, our Provider Education Network connects rural providers to an ever-growing bank of tools, training and technical assistance needed to effectively serve Louisiana residents.

Know the Numbers for Health in Rural Louisiana

About 15% of Louisiana residents live in rural areas,1 which are disproportionately impacted by poor health outcomes. Residents in these communities are more likely to experience limited access to healthcare, education and income, as well as food, housing and transportation insecurity that contributes to a higher prevalence of heart disease, diabetes,2 obesity3 and tobacco use.4

11%

of adults in rural Louisiana have heart disease (32% higher than the urban prevalence of 8%)5

20%

of adults in rural Louisiana have diabetes, (42% higher than the urban prevalence of 14%)5

43%

of adults in rural Louisiana are obese (21% higher than the urban prevalence of 38%)5

39%

of adults in rural Louisiana use tobacco (12% higher than the urban prevalence of 27%)5


It’s Time for a Change

Well-Ahead works to support rural communities and combat the disparities residents face. The State Office of Rural Health acts as an anchor of information and support for rural health professionals, hospitals and clinics and coordinates communication, education, collaboration and innovation among these community leaders to improve the health of Louisiana’s rural residents.

In addition, our Provider Education Network connects rural providers to an ever-growing bank of tools, training and technical assistance needed to effectively serve Louisiana residents.



Technical Assistance and Funding Opportunities

Don’t miss out! Check back regularly for information on technical assistance and funding opportunities as they become available.


Citations

1U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, State Data, 2023. https://data.ers.usda.gov/reports.aspx?StateFIPS=22&StateName=Louisiana&ID=17854

2Harrington et al., Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, 2020. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000753

3Okobi et al., The Burden of Obesity in the Rural Adult Population of America, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8290986/

4Schmidt et al., Disparities in Rural Tobacco Use, Smoke-Free Policies, and Tobacco Taxes, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6613179/#bibr2-0193945919828061

5Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), 2022.