Rural Medicine: Building connections, building trust
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File / TPI Dr. Ben Chappell speaks to the importance of the patient and doctor relationship.

Rural healthcare has been a growing topic in the state of Alabama.

There’s a couple of unique barriers with rural healthcare such as cost, physician shortages and access care. Access to care can look like lack of transportation and the distance of hospitals or other medical clinics for patients. Lake Martin Family Medicine's Dr. Ben Chappell said this is a statewide issue and, looking around the state, rural hospitals are closing, which creates a big risk for patients.  

Abigail Murphy is a multimedia reporter for Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. To contact Abigail Murphy, email abigail.murphy@alexcityoutlook.com.