Press Release

August 19, 2002
Air Date: September 18

Contact:Marie Lucero 701-241-6900

The rural health care crisis examined in new Prairie Public Television documentary

The picture of health care in rural communities is not rosy in North Dakota. A new documentary from Prairie Public Television examines the reasons why—and what can be done to reverse the trends that leave rural residents less healthy than their city cousins.

""Life Support": The Economics And Politics Of Rural Health Care" airs Wednesday, September 18, at 8 p.m. (CT), on Prairie Public Television. The 60-minute program reports how some communities and health care providers are working to meet the health needs of rural residents.

A chronic shortage of trained medical personnel, financial realities that make it difficult to keep small hospitals open, long distances to health care facilities, and lack of affordable health insurance all contribute to the alarming statistics reported by the Center for Disease Control in a study that found rural Americans were less healthy than people living in cities or suburbs.

During the making of ""Life Support"," program producer Matt Olien traveled the state to talk with the medical professionals who are on the front line of the health care crisis.

"It's a complex problem," said Olien. "But there are things being done to protect the health of those North Dakotans living in rural areas, and there are communities and organizations that are working to find new ways to provide the services needed by rural residents."

Many physicians such as Dr. Monica Mayer, NEW TOWN, and Dr. Harnek Singh, CROSBY are providing health care in communities that are long distances from the regional medical centers in North Dakota's larger communities of Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and Fargo. "Life Support" also visits the West River Health Center, HETTINGER, where a state-of-the-art medical center has provides satellite clinics throughout southwestern North Dakota.

In many small towns, volunteer ambulance crews are the first line of defense for rural residents. In "Life Support", some of these volunteers talk about the rewards of helping their neighbors—but also the difficulties in coping with the stress, the lack of funds, and shortage of personnel.

In addition to the television program, information about the rural health crisis can also be found on the "Life Support" Web site at www.prairiepublic.org. The site provides companion material including background information about rural health, transcripts of the interviews with individuals featured in the program, statistics from the CDC's study of rural health, and essays from experts in the health care field. The Web site will launch on September 18—the air date of the televised program.

"Life Support: The Economics and Politics of Rural Health Care" is funded with a grant from United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Since 1964, Prairie Public Television has supported the prairie community through broadcast and technological services. Prairie Public Television is seen on KFME/13/Fargo, KGFE/2/Grand Forks, KBME/3/Bismarck, KSRE/6/Minot, KDSE/9/Dickinson, KWSE/4/Williston, KJRE/19/Ellendale, and Winnipeg Cable Channel 3.

Funding for Life Support is provided by a grant from USDA Rural Development