Excerpts: The cooperative principle has been used by the people of Taos County to provide medical, hospital, and dental care. Local interest in health needs led to the formation of the Taos County Cooperative Health Association, which began operation on October 1, 1942. This report analyzes the first year's operation of the Taos County Cooperative Health Association and thus offers practical evidence of how rural people may approach a solution of their health problems. Before October 1942, Taos County was meeting its health needs in much the same way as is most of rural America. After that date, however, approximately one-third of the county's families were organized cooperatively to obtain for themselves more adequate medical care at a price they could afford to pay. Chapter I briefly reviews the essentials of the health project, the people involved, and the specific purpose of the study. The medical care situation before the association was organized is an important starting point for any discussion of the effects of the cooperative endeavor (ch. II). Then, following a detailed description of the membership, organizational structure, personnel, and hospital facilities (ch. III), an exhaustive analysis of the services, and costs of the first year of operation is made (ch. IV). Finally, an interpretation and appraisal of the first year of operation completes the report (ch. V).
