by Elana Sitnik Across New York State, rural communities face a critical shortage of primary care physicians, hindering access to essential healthcare. Although New York State trains more medical residents than any other state, there are very few residency programs located in rural communities. A 2019 report by the Primary Care Development Corporation highlights the dwindling number of primary care physicians in rural communities, leaving rural New Yorkers with longer wait times for medical appointments and limited access to life-prolonging and cost-saving preventative care. (1,2) The solution lies not only in attracting doctors to these areas but also in developing a sustainable source of future physicians who understand the unique needs of these underserved rural communities. Smaller res...
The Rural Housing Coalition (RHC) has released the findings of a recent Marist Poll on housing affordability conducted in mid-November. The statewide survey, encompassing 1,780 adults, highlights the pressing concerns regarding housing affordability across New York. Key takeaways from the poll include: – 73% of Residents Identify Housing Affordability as a Major Problem: A significant majority, 73% of New York residents, expressed that the affordability of housing is a major issue in their communities. – Widespread Concern Across Geographic Areas: Housing affordability concerns transcend geographic boundaries, with 67% of rural residents, 69% of suburban residents, and 81% of urban residents identifying it as a significant problem. – Perception of Insufficient State Resou...