Where people live impacts their health status and health care needs. Significant differences exist between urban and rural populations in terms of health status, health behaviours, health service use, costs and outcomes. In general, rural residents have direct access to a much smaller number and scope of health services and providers than urban residents. Decision-makers and planners frequently face challenges regarding the availability, capacity, sustainability and performance of rural health systems.
CIHI worked with rural and northern stakeholders across Canada to develop resources to help.
Rural Health Systems Model
What the model is
The Rural Health Systems Model helps you gather quantitative and qualitative information about the key contextual factors that affect population health, health needs, system use and health system performance in rural regions.
How it can help you
- Distinguish among rural communities that appear similar on the surface, and identify appropriate peers
- Interpret information about health system performance and use, and identify benchmarks
- Make decisions, develop plans and write communications
Rural Health Service Decision Guide
What the guide is
The Rural Health Service Decision Guide presents an objective and systematic 5-step process to help you ensure you consider the key factors at play in decisions about providing services in rural areas.
How it can help you
- Think through a decision about providing rural health services
- Identify service options
- Assess service options by answering key questions
Partnerships
CIHI and Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) are collaborating to identify and assemble promising practices for health workforce retention in northern, rural and remote communities. Find summaries of these promising practices on HEC’s website.
Contact us
If you need help accessing courses, email
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