RhPAP U

Welcome to RhPAP U!

RhPAP U is an interactive resource for information on rural health in Alberta. Through this website, you can explore the many factors that affect the health of rural people and communities. The evidence-based research, reports, videos, infographics, and other resources on this site offer insight into rural population trends, rural health issues, health workforce developments, and strategies to support healthy rural communities.

The goals of RhPAP U are as follows:

Create greater understanding of rural health issues
Facilitate the attraction and retention of qualified health professionals to rural areas
Empower rural Albertans to advocate for the needs of their communities

RhPAP U content is organized into five pillars. Click the expanding menus below to learn about each of the five pillars and their related topics.

Five Pillars of RhPAP U

I - Rural Population Health

Population health explores the health status and health outcomes within groups of people and communities. The Rural Population Health pillar highlights the influence that living rurally can have on the health of rural residents. You can explore the following topics:

Social determinants of health

Seniors’ health

Indigenous health

II - Rural Health Policy

Rural health policies describe a vision of what health care should look like for rural people and communities. The Rural Health Policy pillar explores this vision. It further links to resources that help citizens to get more engaged in health care decisions and become better advocates for the needs of their communities. You can explore the following topics:

A vision for rural health

Advocacy

III - Rural Health Research

Rural health research helps us to understand the factors that influence rural health and lead to differences in health and health-care access between rural and urban populations. Under the Rural Health Research pillar you can explore the following topics:

Key issues in rural health research

Rural health research resources

IV - Rural Health Service Delivery

Health service delivery in rural areas can be challenging because of the low population density and the difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified health-care providers. There are innovative health services that create better access to care for rural communities. Under the Rural Health Service Delivery pillar, you can explore the following topics:

Innovative service models

Integrated care

Virtual health

V - Rural Health Workforce

In Alberta, about 11% of the rural workforce was employed in health care and social assistance in 2019. The Rural Health Workforce pillar describes the different health professionals working in rural Alberta, their scopes of practice, how they can collaborate for quality care, and how to attract and retain them. You can explore the following topics:

Workforce demographics

Scope of practice

Interprofessional collaboration

Attraction & retention of rural health providers