November 27, 2024
Thank You For All You Do
We are thankful for all that you do to keep our rural communities healthy and safe!
The DHSS Office of Rural Health and Primary Care will be closed Thursday, November 28 & Friday, November 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
November 26, 2024
Updates to the Definition of Rural Area
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a final notice with updates to the criteria for defining rural areas. This update incorporates a new Road Ruggedness Scale from the Economic Research Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a technical clarification about treatment of Census Bureau-defined urban areas in the definition given the removal of the term Urbanized Areas following the 2020 Census. HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy uses this rural definition for determining rural health grant eligibility.
Click Here to view Road Ruggedness Scale
Click Here to see HRSA definition of Rural
November 26, 2024
New Rural Resources
To mark National Rural Health Day last week, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released new resources highlighting rural health investments across the country and key programs in rural communities.
November 26, 2024
Introducing ACCELERATE Re-Establish Your Care
The University of Missouri – Columbia Health Center has introduced a new study with potential public health impact aimed at re-establishing care for individuals with HIV who are currently out of care: ACCELERATE.
The goal of this study is to connect individuals who are currently out of care and provide immediate access to healthcare resources, with an emphasis on re-engagement within 24 hours via telehealth.
Study participants will:
Interested?
Please send email of interest with your full name and phone number to: hafh6@umsystem.edu or call (573) 882-7790
Or scan the QR Code Below
November 25, 2024
Stroke Performance Differences in Rural vs Urban Hospitals
Using data from the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines stroke registry, a recent study assesses how rural hospitals, including stroke centers and non-stroke centers, perform in providing thrombolytic treatment, achieving guideline-recommendations, secondary stroke prevention, and in-hospital outcomes.
Click Here to Read Full Article
November 25, 2024
How Teletrauma Could Improve Rural Care, Decrease Costs
Teletrauma is a promising approach to improve access to health care expertise using remote consultation. It can bring expertise from a trauma center to injured patients in a non-trauma center, but experts say it is underutilized.
Additionally, telemedicine is enhancing emergency care in rural South Dakota, and the VA has proposed eliminating telehealth copays and expanding access for rural veterans.
Click on the Links Below to Read More:
November 25, 2024
Journal of Rural Health Article: Clinical Outcomes and Profitability Following Rural Hospital Mergers and Acquisitions
As US hospital markets become increasingly consolidated, empirical evidence is needed on the clinical and financial impacts of mergers on care provided by rural hospitals. This study identified characteristics of rural hospitals that underwent mergers or acquisitions and examined changes in profitability, clinical outcomes, and patient experience at acquired versus non-acquired rural hospitals.
Findings
Compared to non-acquired hospitals, acquired hospitals were more likely to be for-profit (18.6% vs. 4.6%, p<0.001) and tended to have lower total margins (-1.1% vs. 1.2%; p<0.05) despite higher average clinical volumes. Changes in acquired hospitals’ total margins, patient satisfaction, and risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rates were not different than changes among control hospitals. However, acquisition was associated with lower improvement in 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rates (0.58 percentage point [p.p.] difference in differences, 95% confidence interval -0.88 to -0.28 p.p., p<0.001).
Conclusions
Overall, mergers or acquisitions of rural hospitals were not associated with significant improvements in profitability, clinical outcomes, or patient experience. Policymakers may need to closely monitor rural hospital mergers in order to balance preserving access for rural patients with the consequences of health care consolidation.
Click Here to Read Full Report
November 25, 2024
Journal of Rural Health Article: Community Responses and Adaptations Following the Closure of a Rural Pharmacy and Primary Care Facility
This study investigates the experiences of one rural community in Central Pennsylvania following the closure of its singular pharmacy and primary health care facility. It aims to understand community members’ responses and adaptations to declining health care accessibility and broader implications for rural health policy and practice.
Findings:
The closure of the health care facilities resulted in significant social and economic impacts, particularly among vulnerable groups, such as older adults, people with disabilities, and working-class families. Participants reported:
The study also found there to be an over-reliance on local emergency medical services for routine care. Although the community demonstrated resilience through the use of social networks, some adaptations carried health risks, including delayed care and unmonitored use of alternative remedies.
Conclusions
The study highlights the need for health care policies that address the immediate loss of services and support the social networks and economic stability that rural communities rely on in the absence of local health care facilities. This research contributes insights for policymakers, health care providers, and community leaders working to support rural communities facing similar health care losses.
Click Here to Read Full Report
November 25, 2024
Canvas Courses: 2024 – 2026 Key Concepts for the Rural Practitioner
Improve patient care in your rural healthcare setting through completion of one, a few or all 10 self-paced modules in this free course. All modules are approved for CME credit. Non-MU students need to create, activate and verify a Canvas account at https://canvas.umsystem.edu/ before registering.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of one or more modules, it is anticipated learners will be able to:
Topics
Click Here to Sign up for Course
November 25, 2024
Project Firstline Webinar Series: Recognizing Risks Using Reservoirs – A Review, February 13
Registration is open for “Recognizing Risks Using Reservoirs – A review”, the next in the Project Firstline Webinar series.
The Firstline Infection Control webinar series focuses on the basics of infection control. They cover topics like how viruses spread, proper cleaning, and how to use personal protective equipment. The content is delivered in plain language with practical applications.
Those working in long term care, outpatient settings, public health, and hospitals can all benefit from these webinars.
Registration allows you to participate in all/any of the webinars – you only need to register one time. If you miss a live Zoom webinar you will have the opportunity to watch a recording.
Cost: Free
When: Thursday, February 13, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Click Here to Register
