National Rural Health Day observed at Beebe Healthcare

The Delaware Rural Health Initiative partnered with Beebe Healthcare Nov. 17 to celebrate the 12th Annual National Rural Health Day.

Rural health leaders gathered at Beebe Healthcare’s Specialty Surgical Hospital to recognize three innovative physicians and their local contributions to healthcare.

Honorees were Dr. Fabricio Alarcon, CMO, La Red Health Center; Dr. Mark Borer, Psychiatric Access; and psychiatrist Dr. Jose Capiro. They have forged the way for integrated primary care and behavioral health services in Sussex County.

In order to make specialty behavioral health care accessible in the primary care setting for all ages and cultures, this tireless group pressed through uncharted territory, sought nationally acclaimed expertise, completed advanced training and certifications, and advocated for resources and policy to implement needed services.

“Many significant and innovative efforts are underway on the part of individuals and organizations to change targeted Sussex health trends,” said Brian Olson, Delaware Rural Health Initiative president. “People in Sussex face unique challenges in accessing care and unfortunately experience poor health outcomes with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and infant mortality, and addiction-related fatalities caused by the opioid epidemic, which also exacerbates chronic conditions.”

The Delaware Rural Health Initiative is a partnership of many community-based, state, private, public and nonprofit organizations that support rural Delawareans through services and programs to expand access to primary care, mental health and oral health services.

National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to take note that approximately 61 million people – nearly one in five Americans – live in rural communities throughout the United States. Rural communities are wonderful places to live and work. That’s why nearly 250,000 people call rural Sussex County home.

Beebe Healthcare has been committed to serving Sussex County since 1916, and has fueled innovative growth of rural healthcare infrastructure with its expansion and focus on creating more access to care.

“We are focused on putting the health and well-being of our community first, because Sussex County is Our Specialty,” said Dr. David A. Tam, Beebe Healthcare president and CEO. “Specializing in Sussex County means taking the necessary steps to truly understand our neighbors’ evolving health needs and expectations, and providing them the services they want and need, close to where they live, work and visit. That is our commitment to you.”