Issues and challenges facing rural hospitals.

Australia's rural hospitals face most of the same issues and challenges faced by metropolitan hospitals. However they also face additional challenges around geographic isolation, their iconic status and role as major employers in local communities, and their close relationship with community based health services. Future opportunities include more formal integration with community service through multipurpose service arrangements, regional networking with urban centers, expanded us of IT linkages, and with the expanding rural academic networks. Rural hospitals' roles as key aged care providers in the country is a particular challenge.