Breckenridge Texan

At their meeting last week, Stephens County Judge Michael Roach and the County Commissioners declared today, Nov. 20, as National Rural Health Day in Stephens County.

“(We) encourage all citizens to join us in celebrating the power of rural and recognizing the vital contributions of healthcare providers, organizations and advocates serving rural America; further, we urge individuals, organizations, business community leaders, to support initiatives aimed at expanding access to care and strengthening rural health systems,” Roach said as he read the proclamation.

Stephens Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Office Gena Speer and other hospital representatives attended the commissioners meeting for the honor.

“Stephens Memorial Hospital is proud to serve Breckenridge and the surrounding rural communities as the backdrop of quality care close to home,” Speer said in the CEO’s Message on the SMH website. “Rural hospitals increase local access and allow patients to focus on ‘getting better’ rather than ‘getting to appointments.’ Rural healthcare does more than bring medical care to patients in sparsely populated areas – healthcare can bring vitality to rural communities. Here, most of our patients aren’t strangers, they are friends and family.”

SMH joins communities across the country in celebrating National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 20. Since 2011, the annual observance — founded and coordinated by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has been held on the third Thursday of November to spotlight the healthcare challenges of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

This year, Stephens Memorial Hospital is marking the occasion by joining the nationwide #PowerOfRural social media campaign on the hospital’s Facebook page. Community members, partners and stakeholders are encouraged to participate and help highlight rural health’s impact in Stephens County.

“Rural communities are the backbone of our state, and their health is vital to our collective future,” Van Moore, community liaison and marketing director of SMH, said in a news release. “We’re proud to celebrate National Rural Health Day and honor the unwavering commitment of rural healthcare providers, organizations, and community leaders who work every day to improve the lives of others.”

For more information about National Rural Health Day and how to get involved, visit PowerOfRural.org. To learn more about Stephens Memorial Hospital, visit www.smhtx.com.

Stephens County Judge Michael Roach presents Stephens Memorial Hospital CEO Gena Speer with a proclamation declaring Nov. 20 as National Rural Health Day in Stephens County. They are surrounded by the county commissioners and several hospital employees. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline top photo: Stephens Memorial Hospital CEO Gena Speer acknowledges several hospital employees as she speaks to the Stephens County Commissioners Court on Nov. 10, in advance of National Rural Health Day. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)