Rural Healthcare Crisis: My Cancer Diagnosis Story
Kathy
State: Illinois
Congressional District:
Diseases
Cancer, Rare Disease
Issues and Challenges
Kathy has encountered: Access to Expert Providers, Underserved Community
My Story
In 1996, the hospital in my community closed. As a previous employee and past president of the hospital foundation, I was saddened, but I had no idea what a serious impact it would have on me personally in the future.
Another healthcare provider purchased the building with plans to operate it as a medical center. This meant that our blue-collar community, with several large factories, would no longer have access to an emergency department. Anyone needing hospitalization or emergency care would be forced to drive at least thirty minutes away, time which could prove critical to survival. Our local representatives did quickly respond and worked to pass legislation that allowed for a freestanding emergency room, one not connected to a hospital. It was the first in the state with that designation. Many years later, however, my personal experience in that same emergency room was traumatizing.
In March of 2023, I began experiencing back pain. I visited a nearby urgent care, not feeling the need to go to the emergency department. I was given a cursory examination and was prescribed a muscle relaxer and a pain pill. After weeks, there was no relief. Eventually, I did end up at the emergency room because I could not walk. I was frightened beyond belief. I knew this was more than just a muscle strain, which I had been told.
After an MRI, the emergency room doctor walked in, announced that I had cancer and had an appointment with a local oncologist the following week, and walked out. How did back pain turn into cancer? After some tears, I decided to seek care outside of my hometown. I felt betrayed by an organization I had supported for years.
I decided to drive to the closest major metropolitan area and have not regretted it, despite it being a nearly two-hour drive each way. My oncologist was appalled to learn that if I needed hospitalization locally, it would be at least thirty minutes away. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June of 2023, which had manifested in a lytic lesion on my spine. I drove weekly for nine months of treatments and care.
Since then, the conglomerate running the hospital nearest to me has now proposed to reduce its med/surg bed count from 54 to 12, eliminate intensive care and ob/gyn beds, and go from five operating rooms to two.
Illinois is divided into six healthcare regions, and ours is the only one without a choice in providers locally. They have a complete monopoly, and to receive care from another provider, local residents are forced to drive long distances for better care. Rural healthcare is in crisis. Only 20% of U.S. doctors practice in rural areas. For patients like me with a rare disease, there is not only a shortage of specialists but also a lack of knowledge about such diseases. Many times, rural healthcare is more costly as well. A lack of hospitals, physicians, and specialists, combined with higher costs, makes rural healthcare a crisis for much of our country.
Something needs to be done to address this.
My Motivation and Inspiration
My own experience in a rural emergency room, as detailed above, has motivated me to research the challenges of rural healthcare in America. 🇺🇸
Share This Story
Get the most from every Story
Find A Compelling Patient Story
Share it on social media.
Share Your Story On Our Network
Share your insights, challenges and what keeps you going.