How small is rural?

I believe rural is more directed towards the distance to a higher level of care. Being 1.5 hours from the nearest metro hospital would imply that it is rural. A critical access hospital would imply that it is small, as they have less than 25 beds, I believe.

Rural areas are wonderful, I think, but healthcare-wise, there are real problems. In an area with no major trauma center, no university medical center within an hour or more's drive, few--if any--walk-in clinics, and limited medical specialists, I think you could rightly call a rural region a healthcare-deprived area.

I, myself, live in a rural area, after decades in big cities, and the difference is more than noticeable--it's stark. I love rural life, don't get me wrong. I have a horse I can ride pretty much anywhere. My dog can run free in the neighborhood and no one calls the pound. But there are disadvantages, and one of the most obvious is the healthcare system. There just isn't enough money to care for people in rural (poor) areas, and this has major consequences. It is no coincidence that the poorest and most rural of America's counties are disproportionately affected by obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other preventable or modifiable health conditions. Living in rural America is great in many ways--I haven't locked my doors in years, and nothing has happened. But there are problems that need addressing, and they truly have nothing to do with location and everything to do with money. It's high time the poor stopped getting shafted for being poor. It's called a social contract, people. We care for others who lack because one day we might lack and need others to care for us. Let's step up, OK? Peace, all.