Liz Urbanski-Farrell has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes for people living in rural areas, both in the U.S. and abroad. In her new role as the executive director of the New York State Association for Rural Health, she highlighted the fact that 44 out of the state’s 63 counties are either partially or fully rural, covering 85% of the state’s landmass, especially in upstate areas.
She pointed out the challenges faced by rural residents in accessing healthcare, such as the need to travel long distances to reach a healthcare facility, taking time off work, and having the financial means to afford the trip. While telehealth has made some progress in addressing these challenges, it can still be more costly than traditional care due to infrastructure and privacy requirements.
Urbanski-Farrell also noted that traditional health services in New York have seen flat funding for several years, making it difficult to meet the increasing healthcare needs of rural communities. She called on lawmakers at both the state and federal levels to provide greater support for rural healthcare, emphasizing the long-term cost savings that can be achieved by investing in rural healthcare now.