Author: dianawinder

Missouri Rural Health Conference, November 6 – 7

September 19, 2024

Missouri Rural Health Conference, November 6 – 7

The Missouri Rural Health Conference is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of rural communities across Missouri.

Co-hosted by the Missouri Rural Health Association (MRHA) and The Association of Rural Health Clinics (MARHC), this year’s conference will bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders for an enriching and collaborative experience.

Benefits of Attendance:

  • Network with Leaders
    • Connect with key stakeholders in rural health, including healthcare providers, government officials, and industry experts.
    • Build lasting relationships and engage in meaningful discussions to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural health.
  • Learn from Experts
    • Gain insights from thought leaders and experts in rural health through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.
    • Stay informed about the latest trends, policies, and innovations that are shaping the future of rural healthcare.
  • Engage in Advocacy
    • Participate in advocacy sessions that empower you to be a voice for rural health.
    • Learn how to effectively advocate for policies and programs that support the health and well-being of rural communities.
  • Discover Innovations
    • Explore the latest healthcare technologies, products, and services at th conference exhibition.
    • Discover innovative solutions that can help you overcome the unique challenges of providing care in rural settings.

Cost: Early Bird Registration: $150; Standard Registration $200

When: November 6 & 7

Where: Old Kinderhook, Camdenton, MO

Click Here to View Agenda

Click Here to Learn More

Click Here to Register

Rural Telementoring Training Center Webinar, October 1

September 19, 2024

Rural Telementoring Training Center Webinar, October 1

People living in rural and remote areas face persistent and systemic healthcare challenges, including:

  • Hospital and clinic closures
  • Geographic isolation
  • Workforce shortages
  • Economic & demographic shifts
  • High burdens of chronic disease
  • High rates of traumatic injuries

When there is a gap in healthcare access or quality, there is an opportunity to share resources and build bridges that improve health.

The RTTC provides free training, tools, and technical assistance to support implementing and evaluating new and current telementoring programs for rural health workers.

Telementoring can improve rural health by:

  • Building local capacity
  • Reducing professional isolation
  • Improving access to care
  • Sharing best practices

It can transform training and education through various uses:

  • Clinical knowledge & task shifting
  • Workforce development & training
  • Rapid implementation
  • Clinic management
  • Operation support and professional development activities

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the mission and resources of the Rural Telementoring Training Center
  • Learn the role of Promotoras and Community Health Workers and how they can assist with identifying asthma triggers in the home
  • Learn of the ways the Rural Telementoring Training Center can help Learning Partners create and implement a telementoring program

Intended Target Audience

  • Health educators
  • Community Health Workers (CHWs)
  • Rural Healthcare Communities/Clinicians looking to bridge healthcare gaps

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, October 1, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

New Product from FMT: Workforce Toolkit to Support Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Providers

September 18, 2024

New Product from FMT: Workforce Toolkit to Support Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Providers

The Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) has released a new product, the Workforce Toolkit to Support Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Providers.

This toolkit:

  • provides background on health care workforce challenges in the U.S.,
  • describes common workforce challenges faced by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and
  • provides examples and links to external resources that CAHs may use to address their own workforce needs and enhance recruitment and retention.

The toolkit includes five modules that discuss key workforce challenges and resources by topic:

  • Introductory module that summarizes broad challenges in the rural health care workforce
  • Organizational culture and leadership
  • Leveraging partnerships
  • Emergency medical services workforce
  • Administrative and support staff workforce

Each module exists as a standalone webpage on the FMT website, and the FMT has also created PDF versions of each module that may be saved locally or printed for reference.

Click Here to View Toolkit

NRHA Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities, October 10

September 18, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities, October 10

Join this session, “Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities”, featuring Hancock Health and Ohio County Family Care as they share practical experiences and applications for overcoming challenges and addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

  • Melissa Rumple, RN< CMCN, Clinical Coordinator for Chronic Care Management at Hancock Health brings over 14 years of nursing experience, including securing grants to improve cardiovascular health.
  • Connie Embrey, RN, BSN, Population Health Nurse at Ohio County Family Care, has 24 years of experience in Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management and Chronic Care Management, ensuring her patients receive comprehensive and effective care.

Together, the presenters will unpack best practices for advancing community health and addressing inequities in access to care, economic opportunity and education.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, October 10, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Webinar: Advancing Value-Based Care Reimbursements with Population Health Technology, October 9

September 18, 2024

Webinar: Advancing Value-Based Care Reimbursements with Population Health Technology, October 9

In this session, Matt West, Vice President of Population Health Solutions at i2i Population Health, will explore how a population health platform can address some of the most significant challenges facing rural healthcare providers today.

Matt brings over 15 years of experience in healthcare technology and will demonstrate how innovative solutions can:

  • streamline manual reporting
  • increase reimbursement revenues and
  • effectively manage ACO/HIE data

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand key challenges
  • Explore innovative solutions
  • Enhance organizational participation

This webinar is an opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical strategies that can help your organization thrive in the Value-Based Care landscape.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, October 9, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Webinar: Improving Safety and Cutting Costs in Rural Hospitals with Automated Dispensing Systems, October 1

September 18, 2024

Webinar: Improving Safety and Cutting Costs in Rural Hospitals with Automated Dispensing Systems, October 1

In this two-part webinar series, discover how Automated Dispensing Systems (ADS) can significantly:

  • Enhance patient safety
  • Prevent drug diversion
  • Improve financial outcomes in rural hospitals

Jeremy Garrett, DPh, director of Pharmacy Services at Weatherford Regional Hospital, and Susan Ritter, DPh, Owner/Manager of Quality Rx Consulting, bring their extensive expertise to demonstrate the real-world impact of ADS on rural healthcare.

Part 1:

  • Enhance Patient Safety
  • See how ADS technology reduces medication errors, safeguarding patients with real-time monitoring.
  • Prevent Drug Diversion
  • Learn effective strategies to combat drug diversion, a critical issue in hospital pharmacies.

Part 2:

  • Optimize Operations
  • Discover how integrating ADS with EHRs improves inventory control and billing accuracy, crucial for rural hospitals.
  • Achieve Cost Savings
  • Understand how streamlining your pharmacy operations with ADS can lead to substantial financial improvements, helping you do more with limited resources.

Consider joining this webinar to gain practical insights from experts who have successfully implemented ADS in rural settings, ensuring your hospital stays ahead in safety, efficiency, and cost management.

Cost: Free

When:

Part 1 – Tuesday, October 1, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Part 2 – Tuesday, October 8, 1:00 -2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment

September 18, 2024

Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment

The 2024 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment is now open! As a reminder, there is a new core MBQIP measure, “CAH Quality Infrastructure” and completing the assessment is the only way to report this data.

Please let your state Flex Coordinator know if you have any questions.

Submissions are due by November 22, 2024.

State Flex Coordinator: Diana Winder, diana.winder@health.mo.gov, 573 526-2486

Click Here to view assessment questions and instructions

Click Here to view CAH Fact Sheet

Click Here to access the portal and submit responses

It’s Telehealth Awareness Week – Telehealth Resources

September 18, 2024

It’s Telehealth Awareness Week – Telehealth Resources

The Health Resource and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Office for the Advancement of Telehealth works to improve access to quality health care through integrated telehealth services. Programs support direct services, research and technical assistance.

Click Here to find the latest information on telehealth

Additional Resources:

Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools Available to You

September 17, 2024

Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools Available to You

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has curated a database of free cybersecurity services and tools as part of their continuing mission to reduce cybersecurity risk across U.S. critical infrastructure partners and state, local, tribal and territorial governments.

What’s included:

  • CISA’s no-cost, in-house cybersecurity services designed to help individuals and organizations build and maintain a robust and resilient cyber framework
  • An extensive selection of free cybersecurity services and tools provided by the private and public sector to help organizations further advance their security capabilities
  • CISA has also initiated a process for organizations to submit additional free tools and services for inclusion on this list

All organizations should take certain foundational measures to implement a strong cybersecurity program before requesting a service or further exploring resources.

Start with these Top 3 Services:

  • Connect with your Regional Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA)
    • CISA’s program of work is carried out across the nation by personnel assigned to its 10 regional offices.
    • Region 7 CSA contact: CISARegion7@cisa.dhs.gov
  • Sign up for Cyber Hygiene Services
    • CISA’s Cyber Hygiene services help secure internet-facing systems from weak configurations and known vulnerabilities
    • Email vulnerability@cisa.dhs.gov to enroll in Cyber Hygiene
  • Cybersecurity Performance Goal (CPG) Assessment
    • CISA’s CPGs are a common set of practices all organizations should implement to kickstart their cybersecurity efforts
    • Small and medium-sized organizations can use the CPGs to prioritize investment in a limited number of essential actions with high-impact security outcomes.
    • CISA has mapped the free services in the Free Cybersecurity Tool & Services database
    • Click Here to learn more about CPGS

Click Here to Access CISA’s Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools