Gerald R. Ford

“ For far too long rural health problems have been ignored. Rural health care was lost sight of in the general breakdown of all rural services resulting from the great migration of our population from farm to city during the first half of this century. ”

“ There is a serious and growing disparity between the health of the 56 million Americans who live in rural America and that of the general population. Physician and dentist shortages are more acute in rural America, emergency medical services are less available, occupational injury and accident rates are far higher and comprehensive health and public health services are less available. ”

“ The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare has designated 1,400 counties and regions as critical health manpower shortage areas where there are too few doctors, dentists, nurses and other health professionals to properly serve the population. ”