Critical condition: The crisis of rural medical care

Tonopah, Nevada, is about as isolated a place as you can find – 200 miles south of Reno, 200 miles north of Las Vegas, with one road in or out. But to those who call it home, this scenic dot on the desert landscape once had everything they needed. Emmy Merrow had no concerns about living in such a remote place: "It had a store and a gas station, and I was fine!" she laughed.