HRSA is the lead federal agency responsible for monitoring and improving historically scarce health care services for 60 million people living in rural areas.
In addition, the office serves as a "policy voice" within HHS to make sure regulatory actions take into account the special conditions faced by rural health care providers.
Other grants help rural hospitals and clinics acquire computer file-sharing systems and telemedicine equipment, which allows physician-to-physician and doctor-patient consultations over great distances.
The centers study critical trends facing rural communities in their quest to secure adequate, affordable, high-quality health services for their residents.
Lessons learned on the U.S.-Mexico border may provide insight to communities everywhere that seek to improve services amid changing demographics and forecasts of long-term health workforce shortages nationwide.