Giving Compass' Take:

• Marv Nelson, Paul Stewart, and Joyce Hollander-Rodriguez highlight the role of philanthropy in closing the rural health gap in Oregon. 

• How can philanthropists enhance the work that is already being done in rural areas? What role should technology (including telemedicine) play in rural health? 

• Learn how to make better investments in rural health. 

According to statistics published by the Oregon Office of Rural Health, more than one-third of Oregonians live in rural communities, many of which do not have any primary care providers. Those that do require residents to travel a greater distance to attend an appointment on average than residents living in urban spaces. Just as concerning, data shows that the availability and quality of care provided in these regions can be lower than in urban areas.

Thanks to technological advancements and thoughtful partnerships between the business, healthcare, and philanthropic sectors, it is getting easier to bring high-quality care to everyone.

For example, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust recently announced that it made more than $14.7 million in grants in our state in 2017 alone, much of which was devoted to health-related services.

OHSU's Campus for Rural Health, the Cascades East Family Medicine Residency in Klamath Falls, and the $50 million Sky Lakes Collaborative Health Center now under construction also will enhance access for patients.

Many other organizations consistently come alongside nonprofits serving our rural communities to make smaller, but equally meaningful, investments.

From educating the next generation of healthcare professionals to establishing traditional, brick and mortar medical offices to introducing high-tech, mobile medical facilities, these sorts of advancements are possible only with the support of philanthropic partners, including the many private foundations, corporate giving initiatives and individual donors who pour hundreds of millions of dollars into charitable activity in the Pacific Northwest every year.

Read the full article about the rural health gap in Oregon by Marv Nelson, Paul Stewart, and Joyce Hollander-Rodriguez at The Oregonian.