Rural Spotlight

Summer 2024 Journal of Rural Health Now Available Online

July 12, 2024

Summer 2024 Journal of Rural Health Now Available Online

The latest issue of NRHA’s Journal of Rural Health is now available online featuring new articles on topics including:

  • Rural veterans’ health care access
  • Rural research methods
  • COVID-19 vaccination
  • Health systems and outcomes
  • Mental health treatment access
  • Perinatal and maternal health
  • Rural and urban disparities in substance use
  • SUD affecting sexual minority populations
  • Nursing home closures
  • Access to post-acute care
  • Long-term services in rural areas

Click Here to access Summer 2024 Journal of Rural Health

Bringing Hospital Care Home: A Revolution in Rural Healthcare

July 12, 2024

Bringing Hospital Care Home: A Revolution in Rural Healthcare

An innovative concept that started in urban centers is making its way into the heart of rural America; hospital-at-home (H@H) care.

The idea stemmed from the realization that patients in rural areas often face significant barriers to accessing regular treatment.

H@H bridges the access gap by offering high-quality care at the patient’s home (or nursing home or assisted living facility). Not entirely new, the concept has gained traction due to advancements in telemedicine and mobile health technologies.

Crescent Regional Hospital in Lancaster, Texas, has installed its first “holobox”, a 3D, life-sized, highly advanced holographic display that allows doctors to teleport to the hospital for real-time, holographic consults with patients. Additionally, the hospital at home movement continues to gain traction in rural areas across the country.

There is no question that H@H improves patient outcomes and satisfaction while reducing cost. Although the implementation process is more complex than imagined and may seem dauting for a community hospital with limited resources, the model is beneficial for the hospital and patients.

Click Here to Learn More

Registration Now Open for NRHA’s RHC and CAH Conferences

July 12, 2024

Registration Now Open for NRHA’s RHC and CAH Conferences

Your chance to share with rural colleagues, network with partners, and learn from clinic and CAH experts from across the country is the National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA’s) Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences September 24 – 27.

These events offer more than 40 educational and networking opportunities designed for clinic and hospital professionals and board members serving rural America.

Rates have been announced and registration is now open so act early to save and reserve your hotel room.

Click Here to Learn More and Register

Missouri Master Plan on Aging Statewide Needs Assessment

July 12, 2024

Missouri Master Plan on Aging Statewide Needs Assessment

Missouri is developing a Master Plan on Aging and needs to hear from you to ensure it is the best plan for:

  • Older adults
  • Adults with disabilities
  • Caregivers

All Missourians are encouraged to take the survey as we are all aging and are, or will be, a caregiver.

More information about the Master Plan on Aging is available at health.mo.gov/aging.

The survey is available from July 8 to August 13, 2024.

Need help with the survey?

  • Call Polco at 855-773-0665
  • For a paper copy of the survey, send an email to survey@polco.us.

Click Here to Take the Statewide Needs Assessment

FEMA and HHS Announce Resources and Tips to Address Extreme Heat Sweeping the Nation

July 11, 2024

FEMA and HHS Announce Resources and Tips to Address Extreme Heat Sweeping the Nation

FEMA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are encouraging everyone to plan and act now to protect themselves against the dangers of heat-related hazards in the U.S., but this health impact is largely preventable.

Heat Related Resources:

Click Here to Learn More

NIH Request for Information: Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative

July 11, 2024

NIH Request for Information: Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks public input on how scientific research can address opioid use disorder, overdose and chronic pain.

All interested parties should submit questions and responses to: HEALquestion@od.nih.gov. Please put HEAL RFI in the subject line.

Interested Parties include the following:

  • The Scientific community
  • The private sector
  • Community based organizations
  • Health professionals
  • Professional societies
  • Advocacy groups
  • Patient communities
  • People with living/lived experience
  • Caregivers
  • Funding agencies
  • Other interested members of the public

Send your comments and questions to: HEALquestion@od.nih.gov with “HEAL RFI” in the subject line.

Comments and Questions must be submitted by July 31.

Webinar: Emergency Preparedness – The Benefits of a Comprehensive Plan

July 11, 2024

Webinar: Emergency Preparedness – The Benefits of a Comprehensive Plan

A robust emergency preparedness plan is fundamental for any rural healthcare provider.

The lessons learned from the COVID era are starting to fade and that can lead to a lapse in focus for CAHs.

This presentation will cover the core elements of an emergency preparedness plan and empower rural hospitals to ensure the lights stay on and patients are safe regardless of the scenario.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand and know how to apply the core components of Emergency Preparedness in a rural healthcare setting:
    • Planning
    • Procedures
    • Communication
  • Training & Testing
  • Learn the elements of a strong Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA)
    • Engagement with the local or state emergency planning commission
    • Understanding vulnerabilities within your community
    • Stay vigilant in the post-COVID era
  • Gain a clear picture of how the day-to-day decisions at the executive level affect Emergency Preparedness
  • Establish the framework for practical and effective drills

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, August 21, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Questions Answered – Healthcare Architecture Experts and Rural Administrators Panel

July 11, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Questions Answered – Healthcare Architecture Experts and Rural Administrators Panel

This Q&A panel will focus on the critical nuances of healthcare facilities architecture and how they affect your organization’s funding, reimbursement models and programming.

HFG is experienced with CAH replacements, master planning, construction administration and everything in between.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand how your facility’s architecture and interior design affect business operations
  • Identify stages of the design-build process that rely on your input
  • Prepare for any construction projects on the horizon

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, August 13, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Enhancing Rural Health in Colorado – Innovations in Hospital Transformation Program (HTP)

July 11, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Enhancing Rural Health in Colorado – Innovations in Hospital Transformation Program (HTP)

This webinar includes an in-depth exploration of Colorado’s Hospital Transformation Program (HTP) and covers how a population health platform can overcome key challenges hospitals face with:

  • Manual reporting
  • Increasing reimbursement revenues
  • ACO/HIE data

Discover why provider orgs need to participate in new quality programs and hear about the successes made by Lincoln Health, leading the way to effective and result driven outcomes after they implemented a population health platform.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, July 18, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Optimizing Capital and construction Spend: Strategies for Rural Healthcare Leaders

July 11, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Optimizing Capital and construction Spend: Strategies for Rural Healthcare Leaders

As rural health systems expand to meet patient needs, rethinking capital strategies is crucial to delivering projects that are operationally efficient and cost-effective.

This presentation will focus on developing integrated and comprehensive strategies to:

  • Enhance planning
  • Design
  • Execution of building projects

Learn how to manage unexpected cost increases and delivery delays, ensuring both short-term performance and long-term resilience against:

  • Shortages
  • Unexpected events and
  • Market fluctuations

Join Mark Webb, Principal at Vizient, as he shares his extensive expertise in capital and construction management within the healthcare sector.

With over 25 years of experience in hospital administration, operations, and construction, Mark will provide valuable insights into managing rising building material costs and financial costs and financial stress in the healthcare industry.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, July 16, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register