This article examines the Ontario Ministry of Health policy response to persistent rural health challenges over the last 5 decades. Rural health policy responses are grouped into policy “paradigms” for purposes of this high-level analysis. Key policies are assessed in terms of progress, limitations, and lessons learned for policy-makers and rural health leaders.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FordDM. Four persistent rural healthcare challenges. Healthc Manage Forum. 2016;29(6):243–246.
2.
BuajittiEWatsonTNorwoodT, et al.Regional variation of premature mortality in Ontario, Canada: a spatial analysis. Popul Health Metr. 2019;17(9).doi:10.1186/s12963-019-0193-9.
3.
RickettsTC. Arguing for rural health in Medicare: a progressive rhetoric for rural America. J Rural Health. 2004;20(1):43–51.
HowlettMRameshMAnthonyP, eds. Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press; 2003:233.
6.
TepperJDSchultzSERothwellDMChanBTB. Physician Services in Rural and Northern Ontario. Toronto: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences; 2006.
7.
ChanB.From Perceived Surplus to Perceived Shortage: What Happened to Canada’s Physician Workforce in the 1990’s?Canadian Institute for Health Information; 2002.
8.
Health Services Restructuring Commission. Looking Forward, Looking Back: A Legacy Report. Ottawa: Canadian Health Services Research Foundation; 2000.
9.
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The Rural and Northern Health Care Framework. 1997.
10.
Health Services Restructuring Commission, Rural and Northern Hospital Networks (Advice and Recommendations to the Honourable Elizabeth Witmer, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care). 2000:1.
11.
Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network. Rural Health Care Review—Final Report. 2010.
12.
Rural and Northern Health Care Panel. Rural and Northern Health Care Framework/Plan: Stage 1 Report. 2010:11.
