The role of the AMA's council on rural health in rural health development.

Through a continuous and comprehensive program, the Council on Rural Health aims toward the development of optimum health for rural America. Of primary concern are the availability and utilization of health services and facilities in rural areas, including increased availability of health manpower, community involvement in health planning, consumer health education, and rural health research. From its inception in the 19409, the Council on Rural Health has recognized the need for a broad program of health education for the rural population. With limited health manpower resources and health care facilities, it is imperative that rural Americans be provided with a program in health education for personal health and for involvement in community action in developing adequate health care services. The Cooperative Extension Service, with its county organization and staff, has the organizational network to reach the rural people with the needed health education program. Thus from the very beginning, the Cooperative Extension Service has been represented on an Advisory Committee to the Council, which also included members from the Farm Foundation, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Grange, and the American Agricultural Editors’ Association. With the involvement of the Advisory Committee representatives, a health education effort was initiated with national conferences on rural health and state and regional health education meetings. The Council’s efforts through the years are being realized with the increased involvement of the Cooperative Extension Service a t all levels in health education programs, with increased participation of the rural population in such programs, and with wider involvement and commitment of health organizations and agencies in a cooperative approach with the federal Extension Service. Basic decisions for improvement of rural health services are generally made at the community and area or regional level within a state. Therefore, the Council program at the national level is geared to involvement and communication with state medical associations, state