THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY VANCE, BAKER, SCARNATI, PILEGGI, ERICKSON, WARD, KITCHEN, KASUNIC, SCHWANK, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, EARLL, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, ORIE, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, VOGEL, WAUGH, D. WHITE, YAW, DINNIMAN, FERLO, FONTANA, SOLOBAY, STACK, TARTAGLIONE AND YUDICHAK, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, NOVEMBER 14, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of November 13 through 19, 2011, as "Rural

Health Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, All but two of the Commonwealth's 67 counties have

rural residents, 48 are predominately rural and five are

completely rural, and the health and welfare of rural

Pennsylvania affects this entire Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of Pennsylvania's diverse rural

needs, the Commonwealth has supported the development of the

Governor's Advisory Council on Rural Affairs, the Center for

Rural Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health and

other agencies and organizations to address the needs of rural

Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has also supported the development

of centers and resources for quality health care services such

as the Area Health Education Centers, primary health and dental

care clinics and community-based efforts to deliver health care

services to rural Pennsylvanians; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Department of Health's State Health

Improvement Plan contains strategies to address the needs and

opportunities that present themselves in our rural communities;

and

WHEREAS, Associations have worked to strengthen the local

health care delivery system through strong rural hospitals and

community-based centers of primary care; and

WHEREAS, Supporting Pennsylvania communities that are not

able to supply or retain core medical services is essential to

the health and welfare of the State as a whole; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Rural Health Association and the

Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health have collaborated to deliver

an annual rural health conference, the only conference in this

Commonwealth devoted exclusively to rural health; therefore be

it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of November 13

through 19, 2011, as "Rural Health Week" in Pennsylvania.