Colorado Rural Health Center Releases 2022 Snapshot of Rural Health

    AURORA, CO, March 12, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) has released the 2022 edition of its Snapshot of Rural Health as well as the regional editions of the Snapshot. The annual publication highlights rural health data such as demographic trends, population health, education levels, opioid use, and the economy through the use of infographic data visualization, text, and maps. The 2022 edition features expanded information on the state of rural health, illustrated with useful statistics and data and maps that can all be used for advocacy, education, and funding opportunities. This year, CRHC expanded the report to include further information on veterans, opioids, COVID-19, race and other demographics, woman's maternal health, and climate.

Colorado Rural Health Center CEO, Michelle Mills, is excited about the updated and expanded snapshot. "The Snapshot of Rural Health provides a comprehensive view of the state of rural healthcare in Colorado. From the different delivery models across the state to profiles on the people, climate, and economies at work, the Snapshot is CRHC's attempt to draw an informative picture of rural Colorado," explains Mills. "The snapshot provides an easy to digest yet thorough picture of how rural healthcare operates in the state."

The Snapshot of Rural Health also includes data collected and analyzed by CRHC's internal data team and the organization's Policy and Advocacy Manager. A comprehensive citations page makes sourcing each fact from the 60 page report easy and convenient.

Along with the release of the full annual Snapshot Report, CRHC also released five regional Snapshots that detail the progress of different regions of the state, allowing for apples-to-apples comparisons. Regions covered in the separate reports include the Northwest, Southwest, Mountain West, San Luis Valley, and Eastern Plains.

One of the expanded areas of the 2022 Snapshot of Rural Health is race and demographics, some data highlights:
• 45% of Colorado's population will be people of color by 2040
• 10% of Coloradoans were born outside of the U.S.
• 61% of foreign-born Coloradans are not U.S. citizens while 39% are naturalized citizens
• In rural Colorado, 26% of the population is people of color compared to 31% in urban areas
• Approximately 1.1% of the Colorado state population is American Indian and Alaska Natives

Additionally, CRHC has included several maps:
• Percentage of People Who Speak a Language Other than English at Home
• American Indian and Alaska Native Population
• Asian Population
• Black Population
• Non-White Population
• Hispanic Population
• Non-Hispanic White Population

Michelle Mills, alongside other CRHC staff, attended virtual meetings with legislators as part of the National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute on February 9-11 where they met with 8 of the state's senators and representatives in Washington DC. The annual policy institute event gives Colorado-based staff an opportunity to meet with policymakers and stakeholders to discuss legislative priorities. The Snapshot of Rural Health is a vital component of these discussions.

As Colorado's State Office of Rural Health and member-based association for rural health facilities, CRHC is a clearinghouse for rural health information and resources, helping providers throughout Colorado enhance healthcare services available in rural communities, and helping elected officials make informed decisions about healthcare policy.

The Snapshot of Rural Health is available for download at https://coruralhealth.org/snapshot-of-rural-health - For additional resources, visit the CRHC resource center at http://coruralhealth.org/resources.

About The Colorado Rural Health Center
The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health and the State Rural Health Association. The organization's mission is to enhance healthcare services in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy toward addressing rural health issues. CRHC's vision is to improve healthcare services available in rural communities to ensure that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

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