Serving the health care needs of Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands & Polk Counties
Our Purpose:* To provide a continuum of care for all
served by the network; * To ensure the availability of a wide array of services either directly, by contract, or through referral agreements * To reduce outmigration and increase the utilization of rural hospitals and other rural health care providers; * To enhance access to high quality health care and services * To support the economy and protect the health and safety of rural residents * To ensure that quality care is efficiently delivered to all persons in rural areas * To serve as laboratories to determine the best way of organizing rural health services | What is Rural In Florida?According to Florida Statute, 381.0406, the definition of rural means an area with a population density of less than 100 individuals per square mile or an area defined by the most recent United States Census as rural.
33 of Florida's 67 counties are considered rural based on this definition. These 33 counties cover just over 42% of Florida's nearly 54,000 square miles of land. Rural counties are primarily located in the Florida Panhandle, north central Florida, the south central portion of the state, and the Florida Keys. Approximately 1.1 million of Florida's 16 million citizens live in rural counties. Portions of other Florida counties also contain large, rural pockets. |
