By Carlos E. Medina
During National Rural Health Day on Nov. 20, UF Health Archer Family Health Care’s director, Denise Schentrup, APRN, DNP, FAANP, reflected on the essential role rural clinics like Archer play in expanding access to care for communities that need it most.
Observed each year to honor the patients, providers and clinics that support health care delivery in rural regions across the country, Schentrup said the day serves as a meaningful reminder of why rural clinics are crucial.
“Rural health is very important. It reaches the people who cannot get care in other places,” Schentrup said. “We are lucky because we have more proximity to resources than many rural clinics across the country, but access remains a major issue for a lot of communities.”
For Jay Amataccio, an Archer resident and patient of the clinic, proximity and access are invaluable. Living with significant vision loss, he cannot drive and relies on nearby care. Traveling to Gainesville by rideshare can be cost-prohibitive, making regular appointments nearly impossible.
Archer Family Health Care, he said, makes it possible for him — and his young son — to stay healthy.
“It’s the closest facility by far, only about six or seven minutes away,” Amataccio said. “My primary care doctor is there, my mental health doctor is there and my son’s pediatrician is there. They know us by name. It feels like a community.”
Without the clinic, he said, he would not have access to consistent health care.
“I honestly wouldn’t be able to keep up with appointments. Transportation alone makes it too hard,” Amataccio said.
There are more than 5,000 rural health clinics across the nation. Florida has more than 150, many serving counties with limited access to primary care providers. Schentrup said some clinics across the United States rely heavily on telemedicine to offer access in remote areas where patients may be hours away from care.
Archer Family Health Care, operated by the UF College of Nursing, sees about 1,700 patients and recorded more than 6,200 visits last year. Schentrup said the clinic is on track for similar numbers this fiscal year, supported by a fully staffed team of nurse practitioners.
Rural health clinics operate under federal rules that shape how they staff their practices and deliver care. Schentrup said national organizations are working to modernize policies. One effort, the Rural Health Clinic Modernization Act, aims to update staffing requirements for clinics and allow practices to operate in ways that better align with state laws, especially in states like Florida, which have independent nurse practitioner practice.
“These changes would help improve access and give clinics more flexibility,” Schentrup said. “It would also support providers who want to open practices in their communities.”
Archer Family Health Care continues to strengthen its services through improved billing, increased revenue collection and workflow upgrades. The college also is investing nearly $200,000 in upgrades to strengthen patient care, support clinic staff and enhance essential services for the rural community it serves.
The improvements include new medical equipment, infrastructure investments and professional development for staff.
“We are proud to serve this community,” she said. “Rural health clinics play a critical role in caring for people where they live, and we are honored to be part of that work.”