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Highlands Today

Rural Health Initiative

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: March 13, 2009

SEBRING - The number one health care problem in Highlands County isn't the lack of doctors, specialists, dentists or mental health services, it's transportation.

That's what 40 participants agreed at the Community Health Improvement Planning Council, held Thursday afternoon at Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center.

"You can have all the services in the world, but if they can't get to them, forget it," said Suzanne Crews, a parish nurse at Florida Hospital. She coordinates 300 volunteers and works with 70 churches.

"I get calls every week," she said. "They can't get to the grocery store."

The Florida Office of Rural Health called the town hall meeting in Highlands and four other rural counties to determine if initiatives need to be developed, or whether programs are already in place.

Highlands County's Human Services Department is trying to develop a community resources guide that will be available to the police and other service agencies, said Mary Foy, interim director.

Representatives of Redland Christian Migrant Association complained that children need more access to dental facilities. Actually, said Crews, the South Florida Community College dental hygienist school offers free teeth cleaning, X-rays and examinations to anyone under age 18. They do not repair or extract teeth, though.

Translation services are needed. Eleven percent of Highlands County residents are foreign born, according to the U.S. Census, but most health care providers don't understand the language or the culture of their patients, said another RMCA representative.

Michele Heston, director of nursing education at SFCC, said insurance is a problem for nursing students. "They're learning all these wonderful things, like holistic medicine, but they're not taking care of themselves. They're delaying care. They don't have health insurance. It's too expensive."

Another working nurse, a single parent, has opted out of insurance at one of her two workplaces so she'll have enough money to pay the mortgage.

Diabetes clinician Kathy MacNeill with Heartland Rural Health Network said nearly everyone over 40 needs glasses, but many don't have vision insurance and don't get vision care.

Other complaints: there is no public adult day care, children's day care isn't affordable to low-wage workers, people living alone aren't getting care, there is no public mental health assistance for people with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

More info: Jackie Rawlings, 863-382-7208.

Highlands Today senior reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at 863-386-5828 or gpinnell@highlandstoday.com

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