Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) care for underserved populations. All RHCs are, by definition, serving lowincome patients in areas that have a shortage of medical services. It is a big responsibility as these patients tend to be sicker and more medically in need than average.
California is a HUGE state – grappling with the state’s vast geography is a significant challenge.
- 85% of the state’s land mass is rural
- Rural CA is home to more than 5 million people, or 13.7% of the state’s population
- Nearly 1 out of every 60 Americans live in rural CA.
California’s RHCs
- There are 303 California RHCs as of January 2012
- 124 Hospital Based
- 163 Private Practices
- 16 Community Based
- There is at least one RHC in 43 (of 58) CA counties.
Services RHCs Provide
- Primary Care – Family Practice, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Internal Medicine, Perinatal
- Specialty Care – Including Orthopedics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Surgery, Urology, Cardiology
- Dentistry
- Behavioral Health