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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
- 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
- American Indian 101": Understanding the History And Contemporary Experiences of Native People in a United States Health Policy Contexton November 8, 2024 at 9:37 pm
Provides information about the history of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in the U.S. healthcare system, AI/AN data collection, and healthcare delivery in the Indian Health Service (IHS). Provides data on insured versus uninsured AI/ANs, insurance type, insurance via Medicaid expansion, and more. -- State Health Access Data Assistance Center
- Serologic Evidence of Recent Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5) Virus Among Dairy Workers — Michigan and Colorado,...on November 8, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Reports on recent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) infection among dairy workers in Michigan and Colorado. Includes information on illness symptoms among those who had been infected, as well as job tasks with ill cows, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and other animal exposures. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Personal Protective Equipment Use by Dairy Farmworkers Exposed to Cows Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses —...on November 8, 2024 at 7:41 pm
Reports on Colorado dairy farmworkers' use of different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) and use of PPE for different job duties. Provides data on PPE use for those working with non-ill cows compared to those working with influenza A(H5N1)-infected cows in the week prior to and week after the infection was identified. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Texas Rural Hospital Grant Program Reporton November 8, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Reports on the establishment, functions, and achievements of the Rural Hospital Grant Program in Texas during the 2024-2025 state fiscal years. Provides an overview of program funding and awards, and details grant programs supporting hospital stabilization, maternal care, and Alternative Payment Model readiness. -- Texas Health and Human Services
- Increasing Medication Assisted Treatment in Rural Primary Care Practice: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis from IT MATTTRs Coloradoon November 8, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Examines how the characteristics of rural primary care practices in Colorado affect their ability to provide medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD), utilizing data from the Implementing Technology and Medication Assisted Treatment Team Training in Rural Colorado (IT MATTTRs) intervention. Analyzes practice characteristics including practice size, behavioral health availability, MAT prescriber staffing, clinicians with MAT experience, private or non-private practice, and leadership buy-in.
- How Emergency Departments Are Responding to the Opioid Crisis: Results from a Statewide Survey in Kentuckyon November 8, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Examines hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Kentucky and their substance use disorder (SUD) services. Utilizes 2023 survey data from ED directors and discusses themes such as use of buprenorphine, referrals to community providers, social work services, screening processes, care continuity and more. Includes feedback about access to and availability of SUD services in rural areas.
- Community Responses and Adaptations Following the Closure of a Rural Pharmacy and Primary Care Facilityon November 8, 2024 at 3:48 pm
Uses interviews with 26 community members to identify the impact of a pharmacy and primary healthcare facility closure in a rural Pennsylvania community. Discusses challenges for vulnerable populations, distance to care, social networks, delayed treatment, emergency medical services, alternative medicine, and more.
- Medical Debt of Residents in the Metro and the Nonmetroon November 7, 2024 at 8:15 pm
Analyzes the levels and causes of medical debt in the metro and nonmetro United States. Utilizes 2017-2022 KFF survey data to examine medical debt according to sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, and income. Discusses perceptions of medical debt and how patients address unexpected medical bills.
- North Carolina Community Health Worker Program - 2023 Profileon November 7, 2024 at 7:28 pm
Fact sheet with information about the Community Health Worker (CHW) program, including responsibilities and core competencies, and ways in which CHWs in North Carolina responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes a county-level map showing CHW organization supporting counties, with shadings indicating rural or urban counties. -- North Carolina Office of Rural Health
- North Carolina Dental Health - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)on November 7, 2024 at 6:00 pm
County-level map of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, with shadings showing ranges of HPSA scores. -- North Carolina Office of Rural Health