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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
- Mental Health Association Launches Hub To Help Rural Residentson December 9, 2024 at 6:00 am
Provides overview of resources available through the Rural Mental Health Resources Hub, created by Mental Health America (MHA). Describes resources including a free mental health screening, educational overviews, and information for communities looking to better serve residents with mental health conditions. Discusses rural disparities in access to mental health treatment and efforts by MHA's South Carolina chapter to expand access through a mobile mental health clinic program.
- Getting Rural Parents Started On Their Breastfeeding Journeyon December 6, 2024 at 6:00 am
Features a program led by the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center (OBRC) which works to expand access to breastfeeding education in rural communities. Notes the health benefits of breastfeeding and lower rates of breastfeeding initiation in some rural areas. Describes how OBRC offers training to rural providers on evidence-based best practices and helps hospitals achieve Baby-Friendly designation.
- USDA Announces New Federal Order, Begins National Milk Testing Strategy to Address H5N1 in Dairy Herdson December 6, 2024 at 6:00 am
Announces the start of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Milk Testing Strategy in response to the spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle. Describes the implementation of a nationwide testing system to identify infected herds and protect the health of farmers, farmworkers, and the public. Notes the issuance of a new Federal Order and outlines compliance requirements for dairy industry stakeholders.
- Number of U.S. Hospitals Offering Obstetric Care Is Decliningon December 4, 2024 at 6:00 am
Summarizes recent research finding that between 2010 and 2022 access to obstetric care has declined in both rural and urban hospitals, though closures for rural areas are felt more acutely. Notes the impact closures have on already high maternal mortality rates.
- NRHA Announces 2025 Rural Health Fellowson December 3, 2024 at 6:00 am
Highlights the 2025 class of Rural Health Fellows from the National Rural Health Association.
- Lack of Civic Infrastructure Drives Rural Health Disparitieson December 2, 2024 at 6:00 am
Describes the findings of a 2024 report by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps on health disparities between urban and rural counties. Includes analysis and visualization of data on uneven health outcomes and regional disparities. Highlights the correlation between poor health outcomes in rural counties and lack of access to civic infrastructure, including libraries, high speed internet, and local news.
- New RSV Drug Delivers Promising Results in Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Deltaon December 2, 2024 at 6:00 am
Describes the findings of a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the use of nirsevimab to treat RSV among infants in rural Alaska. Notes that the drug helped to reduce the severity of illness among babies and young children in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, which has the highest rate of RSV-related infant hospitalization in the nation. Discusses how inadequate water and wastewater services and overcrowded housing in rural Alaska contribute to disease spread.
- VA: Solicitation of Nomination for Appointment to the Veterans' Rural Health Advisory Committeeon November 29, 2024 at 6:00 am
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking nominations to the Veterans' Rural Health Advisory Committee. The committee advises the Secretary through the Under Secretary for Health on ways to improve and enhance access to VA health care services for Veterans residing in rural areas by reviewing current program activities and identifying barriers to accessing care and services. Nominations must be received by January 21, 2025.
- EOP: National Rural Health Day, 2024on November 29, 2024 at 6:00 am
Proclamation from the Executive Office of the President declaring November 21, 2024 National Rural Health Day. Summarizes investments and resources committed to rural health by the Biden Administration.
- Distance, Workforce Shortages Complicate Mental Health Access in Rural Nevada Communitieson November 26, 2024 at 6:00 am
Discusses a student-led peer support initiative to destigmatize mental health in a rural Nevada community. Highlights existing challenges in accessing mental healthcare due to workforce shortages as well as limited transportation.
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
- Health Information Technology Adoption and Utilization in Behavioral Health Settingson December 9, 2024 at 7:40 pm
Explores the adoption and use of health information technology (HIT) among behavioral health providers. Presents findings from a literature review and focus group interviews regarding digital strategies that support integrated care models between physical health and behavioral health. Discusses how a lagging adoption and interoperability of HIT may affect community-based behavioral health providers working with underserved populations. Identifies policy considerations to increase interoperable HIT use among behavioral health providers. Includes rural references throughout. -- HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RTI International
- Criminal Victimization, 2023on December 9, 2024 at 6:57 pm
Presents 2023 data on violent and property victimization. Highlights types of crime, trends over time, victim and offender demographics, unreported crime, and rural, urban, and suburban crimes in 2022 and 2023. -- U.S. Department of Justice
- Kentucky Physical Therapy Workforce Reporton December 9, 2024 at 5:40 pm
Describes the Kentucky physical therapy workforce, using data from the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy and the University of Kentucky Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Features statistics on wages, type of workplace, people per provider ratios by county, and percent of Kentucky DPT graduates and distribution of physical therapists, with breakdowns by rural, urban, Appalachian, and Delta regions. -- University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
- Infant Mortality and Selected Birth Characteristics: 2022 South Carolina Residence Dataon December 9, 2024 at 4:29 pm
Reports South Carolina infant mortality statistics for the year 2022, including county-by-county totals and rates. Identifies trends in infant mortality by race and ethnicity, and includes data on cause of death, birth characteristics, and more. -- South Carolina Department of Public Health
- Immigrant Mental Health in North Carolina: A Landscape Analysison December 9, 2024 at 3:40 pm
Presents knowledge gained from a collaboration between the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and El Futuro, a community-based nonprofit organization, to build resources for serving immigrants in North Carolina. Features sections on access to mental healthcare for immigrants and policies that influence immigrant mental health. Mentions rural throughout. -- El Futuro, North Carolina Institute of Medicine
- Data Watch: Arkansas Roadway Fatalities, 2016-2022on December 9, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Infographic offering data on traffic fatalities in Arkansas. Includes county-level data on fatalities, noting rural and urban differences. -- Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
- Nurse Practitioner Race and Ethnicity and Interest in Independent Primary Care Practice and Serving Medicaid Enrolleeson December 9, 2024 at 3:22 pm
Surveyed California nurse practitioners (NPs) to determine the current practice and practice intentions following scope of practice regulation changes in California. Presents 2023 data showing rurality of NPs by amount of primary care offered and Medicaid patient caseload currently and those considering independent primary care practice, among other characteristics.
- Telling the Story of Public Health Accreditation in Ohioon December 9, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Examines how a high percentage of Ohio's local health departments (LHDs) have achieved Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) accreditation. Provides qualitative interview and focus group feedback as well as quantitative data on finances and LHD profiles to explain the accreditation process in Ohio. Includes reflection on the challenges of achieving PHAB equity standards in rural areas. -- Health Policy Institute of Ohio
- Racial and Ethnic and Rural Variations in the Use of Hybrid Prenatal Care in the USon December 9, 2024 at 2:38 pm
Examines how factors of race/ethnicity, location, and telehealth restriction waivers during COVID-19 impact the uptake of hybrid prenatal care. Provides demographic breakdowns related to telehealth use of women during pregnancy and the COVID-19 public health emergency, with additional data on health conditions, U.S. region, and urban or rural residence.
- A Toolkit for Developing Local Multisector Plans for Aging in Rural Areason December 6, 2024 at 10:00 pm
Offers 10 steps for developing a master plan for aging with rural focus, covering leadership development, community engagement, implementation planning, evaluation, and sustainability. Highlights rural-specific challenges for aging in rural communities. -- The SCAN Foundation