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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,
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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
- Food Bank Bounces Back From Helene to Tackle Hunger Crisis in Western NCon October 15, 2024 at 5:00 am
Highlights high rates of food insecurity in rural western North Carolina and how these challenges were exacerbated by Hurricane Helene. Features an Asheville-based food bank that offers food distribution throughout the region, but which incurred significant damages in the storm. Describes ongoing efforts to distribute food to storm-affected rural areas, including pop-up distribution sites, mobile kitchens, and state and federal assistance programs.
- WSU's Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Works To Fill Gaps in Rural Health Careon October 15, 2024 at 5:00 am
Details initiatives of the Wichita State University Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL) offering microbiology services and technical consulting to rural hospitals and small laboratories. Notes that small hospitals often face long turnaround times for sample testing. Discusses efforts expedite diagnostic services while increasing the capacity of local laboratories.
- Indigenous Women Continue To Face Barriers to Breast Cancer Care, Report Findson October 14, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses higher breast cancer mortality rates among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. Explores treatment barriers including transportation and long distances to care. Notes lower screening rates among AI/AN women and efforts to develop more culturally responsive outreach tools.
- This Mobile Clinic Is Bringing Birth Control to Rural South Texason October 14, 2024 at 5:00 am
Highlights two mobile clinic programs offering a variety of women's health services, including birth control, to rural communities in Texas and Arkansas. Notes that mobile clinics can help improve access to women's health services in rural areas, but are often expensive to operate. Describes funding strategies, community partnerships, legal considerations, and the utilization of community health workers for mobile clinic programs.
- Patients Are Relying on Lyft, Uber to Travel Far Distances to Medical Careon October 14, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes the use of ride-hailing apps by rural Georgians for transportation to medical appointments. Highlights data showing that a significant number of rural residents are using the apps for transportation to appointments over 100 miles away. Notes that some insurance plans cover transportation costs, but services may be less available in rural communities.
- Hurricane Helene's Impact on the Socially Vulnerable in North Carolinaon October 11, 2024 at 5:00 am
Presents overview of data from the Census Bureau's Community Resilience Estimates (CRE) program on North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene. Notes that 10 of the 27 counties under a major disaster declaration are predominantly rural; 20.2% of individuals living in the affected counties are classified by the CRE as having a high degree of social vulnerability to disasters. Explores CRE data on factors contributing to high social vulnerability in the affected counties, including age, disability, and housing quality.
- FCC Waives Certain RHC Program Rules in Response to Hurricane Heleneon October 8, 2024 at 5:00 am
Order from the Federal Communications Commission waiving certain program rules for the Rural Health Care Program providers impacted by Hurricane Helene. Highlights changes to deadlines for appeals and waivers, information requests, the Health Care Connect Fund Program annual report, and invoices as well as document retention rules.
- National Disaster Recovery Framework Public Comment Periodon October 7, 2024 at 5:00 am
Request for public comments on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Disaster Recovery Framework. Notes that the framework shapes the federal government's approach to disaster recovery assistance, with implications for state, local, and territorial governments, Tribal Nations, and nongovernmental partners. Comments are due by October 23, 2024.
- Field Hospitals Set Up To Treat North Carolina Storm Victims Sit Mostly Emptyon October 4, 2024 at 5:00 am
Explores factors contributing to low patient volumes at field hospitals erected in rural North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Discusses how damaged power and communications systems may have hindered efforts to spread the word about the temporary services, and identifies collaboration with local AM radio stations as a potential workaround. Notes ongoing efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a range of local and national partners to locate missing persons and prepare for a potential surge in patient volumes.
- USDA Offers Resources, Adds Flexibilities to Disaster Assistance Programs To Help Hurricane Helene-Impacted Farmers, Foresters and...on October 4, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist communities and individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene. Highlights resources for farmers, foresters, and communities including expedited crop insurance payments, disaster assistance programs, and nutrition assistance programs.
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
- Perceptions about Dementia Clinical Trials among Underrepresented Populations: A Nationally Representative Survey of U.S. Dementia...on October 15, 2024 at 3:05 pm
Examines demographic variations in willingness to participate in a dementia clinical trial via a survey of 610 dementia caregivers, and identifies factors influencing decision-making. Breaks down data by demographic, including caregivers' rurality. Discusses clinical trial access disparities in underserved populations.
- The First Year of Rural Emergency Hospitals: REHs Serve Relatively Disadvantaged Countieson October 15, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Findings brief examining the kinds of communities with hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) in 2023. Features demographics and statistics including breakdown by rural location. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
- 2023 Louisiana Health Report Cardon October 15, 2024 at 2:49 pm
Provides detailed health data by parish for Louisiana. Covers cancer incidence, suicides, the opioid epidemic, COVID-19, infectious diseases, low birthweights and infant deaths, top causes of death, and more. -- Louisiana Department of Health
- How is Digital Health Suitability Measured for Communities? A Systematic Reviewon October 15, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Provides a systemic review of how digital health suitability is measured to determine if communities can access digital health services. Provides descriptions of various community, ecological, and social vulnerability indices and their ability to measure digital health suitability. Includes discussion about how rurality impacts digital health equity.
- Charting a Path to Comprehensive Healthcare for Rural Veterans, with Matt Coleman and James VanCleaveon October 15, 2024 at 2:18 pm
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Matt Coleman, Director of the Kentucky State Office of Rural Health, and James VanCleave, Rural Project Manager, Veterans Services for the KORH. Focuses on their work helping veterans access services and receive care and benefits from the VA and other providers. -- Rural Health Information Hub
- Xylazine Awareness and Attitudes among People Who Use Drugs in Ohio, 2023–2024on October 14, 2024 at 4:04 pm
Examines awareness and perceptions across rural and urban counties in Ohio of the drug xylazine, a non-opioid tranquilizer unsafe for human consumption. Utilizes 2023-2024 survey data from 630 people recruited at naloxone distribution sites to analyze awareness of xylazine by participant demographics, drug use, and rural versus urban location.
- The Friends and Family for Mental Health Program: A Pilot Study of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Skills Intervention for Rural Adultson October 14, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Pilot study on the Friends and Family for Mental Health Program, a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills program for informal caregivers in rural communities. Provides data on 37 Ohioans' change in informal care skills and psychological well-being while participating in the program. Discusses informal care models and examines barriers to mental health services in rural areas.
- Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing the Diabetes Prevention Program in Rural Church Settings: A Qualitative Study Using the...on October 14, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Analyzes the effectiveness of implementing a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in a rural church setting in Georgia. Utilizes feedback from interviews with church leaders and lifestyle coaches to discuss facilitators, such as academic partnerships and evidence-based programming, as well as barriers, such as transportation, childcare issues, prohibitive health problems, and more.
- Association Between Obesogenic Environments and Childhood Overweight/Obesity Across the United States: Differences by Ruralityon October 14, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
- Travel Burden and Bypassing Closest Site for Surgical Cancer Treatment for Urban and Rural Oncology Patientson October 14, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.