Rural Health Interview Report

Growing up on a farm in rural South Dakota, one learns to go without. Country living often entails going without the newest clothes, technology, or even modern necessities. Unfortunately, it can also include the postponement of medical intervention when health begins to fail. The maldistribution of rural health professionals has created a gap in healthcare for anyone choosing to live in a rural setting.
Although I have experienced some difficulties growing up in rural South Dakota, it has not shaken my goal to one-day make a career and life within a South Dakota small town. The close relationship with patients, and respect received in a community, are what attract me to a career in a rural community. Working in a small town Lewis pharmacy, …show more content…
At the Avera St. Benedict health center, I was able to witness a vast variety of medical situations, as well as, work with many different types of health professionals including: nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, family medicine doctors, and many specialty doctors. My favorite part of the experience was being able to witness the delivery of a baby girl. The most eye opening experience was traveling to the hospital’s outreach center in Lake Andes and learning about all the struggles the community is facing in regards to access to medication. The town’s local pharmacy had recently closed and due to the community’s poverty status and inaccessibility to vehicles many patients were going without medication. As community pharmacy continues to focus on chain pharmacies in areas that can support a business, the gap in access for rural patients continues to grow. Having talked to patients and witnessing their struggle, it has sparked a drive to help close this gap by considering a career at a rural setting. The Avera St. Benedict health center also serves as the only critical access center in the area. It was easy to see gratitude the community and surrounding area had for the