The quickest way to learn what is wrong with our U.S. health system is to observe its malfunction in rural America where the lack of services, shortage of physicians, high cost of illness, inadequate insurance coverage, and lack of citizen voice in health proceedings are most profound. The major health problem in rural areas is one of personnel. Although 30 percent of the U.S. population live in rural areas, there is only 1 doctor for every 1,400 persons. Rural communities have trouble attracting doctors for the following reasons: medical students are traditionally members of middle class families and have little interest in or connection with the rural poor; medical schools tend to promote specialization, pointing their students toward urban specialization centers and away from rural general practices; local medical societies impede any non-fee-for-service health practices; the American Medical Association and the American Association of Medical Colleges oppose recent propositions for a compulsory program of equitable physician distribution; and increasingly Health, Education, and Welfare personnel are speaking in terms of the coming "regionalization" of rural health facilities, an indication of the demise of the small rural hospital and, perhaps, the small rural community as well. (JC)