Come on in, the water's just fine

Rural America is dynamic and challenging, and it is vastly different from what it was mid-way through the century. Unfortunately, many people, including policymakers, have a very outmoded picture of what today's rural America is really like. This paper begins by exploding seven common myths about rural America. Next, three characteristics of the rural environment--diversity, sparse population, and interdependency with broader social and economic forces--are examined in relation to health care delivery and medical education. The contribution of health care to the economic needs of rural America is also explored. The paper closes by noting both altruistic and self-serving motives for the medical education establishment to become more concerned and involved in rural health issues.