Social Connectedness and Improving the Health of Rural Communities

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Social isolation and loneliness are major risk factors for poor health and mortality. Many members of rural communities are at risk for social isolation and therefore also at risk for poor health and quality of life. Global community health research has identified strategies to reduce social isolation and to promote wellbeing in rural communities. This presentation will review possible interventions for improving rural community health through social connectedness. 

Speaker bio:

Hannah Fields MD MSPH is currently practicing family medicine at Madison Health Care Services, a rural critical access clinic, hospital, and nursing home facility in Southwestern Minnesota.  She is originally from Colorado, graduating Summa cum laude with a Bachelor's of the arts of Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Colorado.  While studying medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, she was awarded a scholarship for a Masters of Science of Public Health at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, where she developed a pilot program for prescribing social activities to address isolation and social health determinants in rural communities in Catalunya, Spain. She completed family medicine residency training at the University of Colorado. In her free time, Dr. Fields enjoys spending time in nature with her dogs, cooking with her husband and friends, enjoying coffee and local events, and playing music in her community.

Objectives:

• Understand the impacts of social isolation and loneliness on health.
• Identify risk factors for social isolation among members of rural communities.
• Describe possible community and health interventions which can improve social connection and health of rural community members.

This webinar is presented by National Library of Medicine.