I live in a more rural part of Arizona. One complaint I often hear is how difficult it is to find and keep qualified doctors and specialists in our area.

It's not our imagination. A new report by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) confirms our fears: the lack of doctors is a big risk to patients in rural Arizona, and the numbers prove it.

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Arizona's Mortality Rate: A Dramatic Increase

In recent years, Arizona has witnessed an alarming rise in mortality rates. The ADHS reports that the state of Arizona experienced "a significant increase in death from all causes between 2019 and 2020, with a 25.8% jump."

READ: 3 Arizona Cities Make Top 100 List of Best Places to Live

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After adjusting for age, the mortality rate escalated from 676.6 per 100,000 to 842.2 per 100,000 at the conclusion of the study in 2020.

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Of course, looking at the dates of the study, there's no doubt the pandemic played a role in the increase. But even after accounting for age differences between Arizona and other states, Arizona had the 23rd highest death rate in the United States in 2021.

 

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This alarming statistic caught the attention of Arizona's public health officials. There's a critical need for change to halt the rise in rural deaths. 

According to USDA research, in rural Arizona, people ages 25 to 54 die from natural causes, like chronic diseases and cancer, at much higher rates than people of the same age who live in urban areas. The study didn't consider other causes of death, like suicide or drug overdose.

READ: Danger! Reasons You Should Never Travel from Arizona to Mexico

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Healthcare: Underserved Rural Arizona

This study is investigating ways to improve access to healthcare in Arizona's rural counties. To reverse this frightening trend, health officials are promoting prevention and working on ways to connect patients with better options for chronic disease management to better improve rural healthcare.

[Arizona Department of Health Services | PublicNewsService.org | USDA ]

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