Includes bibliographical references and index.

Overview of rural health care. The health of rural people and the communities and environments in which they live -- The rural patient -- The rural physician -- The rural health care team -- Population-based medicine : links to public health -- The emergence of federal rural health policy in the United States. Special clinical problems and approaches in rural health care. Emergency care -- Obstetric care -- Special medical problems in perinatal care -- Surgery -- Home care -- Rural mental health -- Dental care. Organization and management of rural health care. Rural hospitals, consultation, and referral networks in rural practice -- Medical informatics and information access -- Telemedicine and telehealth service -- Rural health networks : an organizational strategy for collaboration -- The economics of rural practice -- Practice management in a rural setting -- Quality of care in rural settings : bringing the "new quality" to rural practice -- Community-oriented primary care and rural health services development. Education for rural practice. Predoctoral education for rural practice -- Graduate education for rural practice -- Continuing medical education for rural practice. Lessons from abroad. Rural practice in Canada -- Rural practice in Australia -- Rural general practice in the United Kingdom -- Rural practice in South Africa -- Rural practice in China.