通知公告：
【英语阅读】新泽西州的基层医疗The New Jersey State Office of Rural Health has been in existence since 1996. New Jersey was one of the last states in the country to establish an Office of Rural Health. This was due, in large part, to the unique circumstances within our state.
New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation. There are 30 cities/municipalities with populations above 40,000 in New Jersey. These urban areas in conjunction with their outlying suburban neighbors dominate New Jersey in terms of its population base.
As such, we are the only state in the northeastern region which does not have any counties or subcounties conforming to the federal definition of a "rural area". In addition, there are no hospitals in our state which qualify as rural hospitals. In short, all areas in New Jersey are classified as standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSAs).
Even though we do not have areas conforming to the standard definition of "rural area", it is misleading to assume that all of New Jersey is industrialized or suburbanized. In fact, two thirds of the state is open space. Further, farming is one of the state's key industries. While farms are spread throughout the state most may be found in the northernmost counties, Warren and Sussex, and the southernmost counties, Atlantic, Salem, Gloucester and Cape May.
NJSORH is the first entity in the state established for the sole purpose of coordinating and providing a clearinghouse function for rural health care within the "Garden State". Given the uniqueness of the "non-rural" nature of the state, the mission of the NJSORH is to highlight the role of and need for rural health care within an environment of some of the most high need, high profile, urban cities in the United States.
One of the greatest and ongoing challenges facing the NJSORH is to gain recognition for and responsiveness to the health care concerns facing rural populations within such an overwhelmingly "urban" state. The NJSORH spent considerable time and energy in developing a rural definition which would meet the needs of New Jersey. Ten counties in the state qualified under this definition which is based upon a population density of less than 750 persons per square mile.
Once this working definition was developed, outreach became more focused and rural activities coordination had a targeted audience. Rural conferences were convened and a statewide rural health advisory council was formed. The NJSORH has become recognized as a forum for individuals from different departments within state government as well as health care advocates and providers throughout the state.
The NJSORH has secured a seat on the New Jersey Hospital Association's Community Assessment Committee. This committee, composed of a wide range of health care providers, planners and institutions is developing cutting edge planning and implementation strategies for community-based assessment and planning statewide. The Office has worked closely with the Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey statewide healthcare library in organizing and cataloging a collection of rural information, texts and research materials amassed from nationwide sources.
The NJSORH provides technical assistance on an ongoing basis to a number of organizations interested in developing rural health programs and sends out funding alerts to potential applicants citing the availability of new funding sources. The office is committed to assisting physicians and other health care providers seeking opportunities to work in rural New Jersey. The Office follows up on referrals and J-1 visa waiver requests as well and also works with health organizations interested in applying for J-1 waivers.
The SORH and the NJPCA will collaborate in dissemination of information, resource sharing, training opportunities as well as managed care negotiations. The Cooperative Agreement in New Jersey will enable the SORH to join with the New Jersey State Department of Health in physician recruitment and retention efforts for rural areas in the state.