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Healthcare and Education for Modoc Country LivingLiving the country life is full of pluses and minuses. Healthcare and education are integral parts of country living that highlight those pluses and minuses. On the plus side healthcare and education are more personalized and slightly slower-paced in a country living environment. With rural healthcare, you usually have one dedicated doctor of your choice and liking. Crowded waiting rooms and long waits for appointments are nearly unheard of. You get to know your healthcare providers on a more personal level so you get a more personal level of care. Likewise with rural and small town education systems, schools are less crowded and students tend to get more personal attention from educators. Because of the lower populations, rural schools also are less influenced by society's ills such as drugs, crime or gang activity. The minuses in both healthcare and education in the country are caused by the same low rural populations that provide the pluses. America's healthcare systems, even in highly populated areas, are plagued by high costs and many large hospitals and medical centers continually teeter on the brink of insolvency. This same problem is mirrored and much more visible in rural healthcare facilities. By some accounts, rural healthcare is in crisis. Because of low and often declining population bases, many rural healthcare clinics are reducing services or closing altogether. A similar situation is present in most rural education systems. Schools and school districts are funded based in large part on student enrollment. If enrollment is low or declining, as is the case in many rural districts across the country, schools cannot afford to pay educators. Another problem for many rural healthcare and education systems is recruiting quality healthcare providers and educators. Lucrative compensation packages and bonuses are often not enough to lure experienced doctors and educators to isolated areas with sometimes-hostile climates. As good healthcare and education are basic cornerstones for an enjoyable lifestyle, they are very important considerations for where a family lives. Although weathering their share of problems, quality healthcare and education is alive and well in Modoc County, California as of this writing.
Modoc schools are some of the best in the state. Schools in Modoc County's unified districts rank very well when compared to other districts in the state, most notably in low drop-out rates and routinely high Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) rates. Schools in Modoc County also have one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the state. The Modoc County Office of Education, based in Alturas, provides leadership, service, and support to three unified school districts throughout the county.
One of the unique aspects of country living in northeastern California is being close to the area's Native American Indian population. The area's Indians are very much a part of Modoc culture and history. Native American Indians make up about six percent of Modoc County's population. While the county's Indian population enjoys their own health and education resources, they also blend into the local populace and attend public health and education institutions. Among the Native American health and education resources are the Warner Mountain Indian Health Project clinic in Fort Bidwell and an Indian Education Center, Resources for Indian Student Education located in Alturas. Follow this link for more information on rural healthcare and education. One of the things I like most about country living is the lack of congestion. Virtually nothing in the country is crowded. Whether grocery shopping or picking up a sheet of plywood at the lumberyard, you never have to wait in line long. From distance between neighbors to travel on the highways and byways, nobody is crowding you, with the possible exception of the line at the corn dog stand at the annual Modoc District Fair. Although even if the line for corn dogs is a little crowded, you can always opt for the taco stand or a hamburger and a beer! Healthcare and education facilities in Modoc County are no different. Both healthcare and education are a lot more personalized and slightly slower-paced in a country living environment. In nearly three years of routine office visits, I've never had to wait to see my doctor longer than 30 minutes. The waiting room is never crowded, and the entire staff uses my first name; I'm not a special case, as everyone is treated that way! Country schools are generally less crowded, and with only 16 students to teach, educators can spend a little more time with students who need extra help. Rural healthcare and education systems are certainly not trouble-free, and country living is not utopia. For my money though, country living provides the most preferable healthcare and education systems. Enjoy Modoc Country Living! More Modoc Country Living...
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