NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON!!!
Now accepting UME programs to be participating programs!
Interested UME programs can complete and submit the 2024-2025 application HERE.
Click HERE for information on our 2025 Annual Meeting!!!
Our Participating Programs and Sponsors
Featured News Story
Annual Rural Photo Contest
The Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly RTT Collaborative) invites you to participate in our annual rural photo contest. Each year we hold a “bragging rights” competition for the shutter bugs associated with our organization to showcase their best photos that represent rural healthcare and training. The deadline for submission is the end of April, but this year, for the first time ever, all entries that are submitted prior to the start of our annual meeting on April 10th, will be featured at the meeting and eligible to win the new “Rural Educators” award, to be selected by the attendees at the annual meeting in Asheville,
Read More
RHIhub – The nation’s rural health library
Latest News
News stories via the Rural Health Information Hub News stories of interest to rural health, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub
- Rural Veterans Are Struggling with Access to VA-Provided Careon November 6, 2024 at 6:00 am
Discusses access to Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare challenges for rural veterans, noting broadband access, workforce shortages, transportation issues, and caregiving load as contributing to the challenges.
- Community Health Workers Spread Across the US, Even in Rural Areason November 4, 2024 at 6:00 am
Highlights the growth of community health worker (CHW) programs across the country. Notes that CHW programs in rural areas can help connect low-income and minority communities to health systems and navigate common barriers to care. Describes the impacts of a CHW program in Huron, South Dakota, which was created through a federal grant program and is now funded by Medicaid reimbursements.
- CMS Announces New Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Increase Access to Care, and Advance Health Equityon November 1, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announcement of new policies included in the 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center final rule. Describes updated health and safety requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to improve and expand access to quality maternal and behavioral health care. Notes policy changes including updated payment rates, staffing standards, quality assessments, training requirements, and expanded coverage for services provided outside the "four walls" of behavioral health clinics and clinics located in rural areas.
- USDA Partners With White House, National Rural Water Association to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systemson October 31, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces a partnership between federal agencies and the National Rural Water Association for a 1 year study on cybersecurity for rural water systems. The study will identify areas for improvement, guidance on cyber-support programs, and offer training on cybersecurity issues.
- On-Call Maternity Care in Rural Arizona Boosted by AHCCCS Fundingon October 30, 2024 at 5:00 am
Arizona's Medicaid agency is funding new on-call OB-GYN providers for rural communities. The initiative is meant to increase access to care for people in maternity care deserts. Discusses challenges with recruiting healthcare providers to rural areas and the role of mental health in mortality for pregnant and postpartum women.
- Share Your Rural Health Story in Honor of National Rural Health Dayon October 28, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces partnership between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and StoryCorps to record stories related to rural health triumphs and challenges in honor of National Rural Health Day. Conversations will be recorded virtually in early November and archived at the Library of Congress. Registration is open now and recording slots are available on a first come, first served basis.
- Ask an Expert: Solutions to Social Isolation in Rural Communitieson October 28, 2024 at 5:00 am
Interviews Carrie Henning-Smith about aging in place and social connection, highlighting the challenges and benefits in rural communities. Discusses Minnesota-based programming on the topic, community involvement, and recent research.
- NRHA Releases 2024 Compendium of Best Practices for Rural Age-Friendly Careon October 24, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces the release of a report sharing best practices, models, research, and policies related to rural age-friendly care. Highlights the partnership between the National Rural Health Association and The John A. Hartford Foundation in addressing age-friendly care for rural older adults.
- Northern Forest Center Focuses on Rural Middle-Income Housing Needson October 23, 2024 at 5:00 am
Highlights the work of the nonprofit Northern Forest Center to fund workforce housing development in rural Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Notes that housing shortages have contributed to recruitment challenges for local businesses, including healthcare organizations. Describes their "capital stack" funding approach and the potential for replication in rural communities elsewhere in the country.
- Medical Academy Serves High School Students and Their Communitieson October 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Profiles Montevideo Medical Academy, a medical training program creating a pipeline for rural Minnesota high school students toward healthcare professions. Describes how the program was started and successes early in the program.
Helpful Resources
Rural resources via the Rural Health Information Hub Resources, reports, and other documents on rural health topics from a variety of sources, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub
- Rural Health Equity in HHS Region 7on November 6, 2024 at 2:55 pm
Presentation slides that provide highlights related to rural health equity in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas. Discusses issues such as COVID-19 health equity funding, housing, farmworker and immigrant health, maternal healthcare access, and more. -- Iowa College of Public Health
- Virginia's Assisted Living Facility Administrator Workforce: 2024on November 5, 2024 at 5:26 pm
An overview of the assisted living facility administrator (ALFA) workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2024 Assisted Living Facility Administrator Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of ALFAs in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas. -- Virginia Department of Health Professions
- Virginia's Nursing Home Administrator Workforce: 2024on November 5, 2024 at 5:09 pm
An overview of the nursing home administrator (NHA) workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2024 Nursing Home Administrator Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of NHAs in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas. -- Virginia Department of Health Professions
- Cybersecurity for Rural Healthcare Facilitieson November 5, 2024 at 5:01 pm
Learn about the risks rural healthcare facilities and public health agencies face related to cyberattacks, as well as cybersecurity tools and resources available to help prepare and respond. -- Rural Health Information Hub
- Physician Workforce: Projections, 2021-2036on November 5, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Offers workforce projections for physician specialties, using data from the Health Resources and Service Administration's Health Workforce Simulation Model. Features statistics on projected supply of and demand for physicians in 2026, 2031, and 2036, projected adequacy of various physician specialties in 2036, and projected adequacy of physicians in metro and nonmetro areas in 2036. -- Bureau of Health Workforce
- Preserving Rural Health Care: The Impact of Site-Neutral Paymentson November 5, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Policy brief describing the role off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) play in providing essential healthcare services in rural communities. Discusses the potential impacts of site-neutral payment policies on the financial stability of rural Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) and Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) off-campus HOPDs and access to care in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to address the impacts of site-neutral payments on rural hospitals. -- National Rural Health Association
- Nurse Workforce Projections, 2022-2037on November 5, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Offers nursing workforce projections, using historical data up to and including some data from 2022. Features statistics for projected supply and demand for selected nursing occupations in years 2027, 2032, and 2037, projected shortages of registered nurses (RNs) in these years with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro areas, and a list of 10 states with the largest projected shortages of RNs in 2037. -- Bureau of Health Workforce
- Rural Health Policy: The Long and Winding Roadon November 5, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Presentation slides that offer highlights of rural health policy milestones, such as changes in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), value-based care, accountable care organizations, and more. -- Rural Policy Research Institute
- Telehealth: Supplement or Supplant?on November 5, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Presentation slides that cover highlights regarding value-based care and payment, telehealth use during the COVID-19 public health emergency, optimal use of telehealth as well as potential issues, related policy, and more. -- Rural Policy Research Institute
- A Case Report on a Women's Residential Substance Use Program in a Rural and Urban Settingon November 5, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Explores the characteristics and outcomes of residential substance use recovery programs for parenting and pregnant women in rural and urban counties in Kentucky. Breaks down participant data by age, race, number of children, and location in a rural or urban area, among other measures.