September 19, 2024
CDC Rural Public Health Strategic Plan, FY 2024 – 2029
The Office of Rural Health (ORH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lays out its plan for collaborating with internal and external partners to support and advance rural public health science and practice.
The document includes background on CDC’s rural public health efforts, the structure and role of ORH, and the strategic plan’s development.
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September 5, 2024
Article: Six Ways to Overcome the Rural Healthcare Workforce Shortage
A competitive labor market means that rural healthcare providers need to rethink their approach to recruitment and retention.
In this article from Wipfli, discover six ways your organization can reach new talent and become a more competitive employer.
Click Here to Read Article
August 29, 2024
Rural Leaders See Hospitals Closing Without Robust Broadband
Rural representatives at the federal level have raised concerns regarding the role of inadequate broadband access in the closure of rural hospitals.
Additionally, health care bankruptcies are down but financial challenges remain, and academic systems are stepping up to acquire rural and community hospitals and smaller health systems that are struggling to push their operating margins back into the black.
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August 29, 2024
Rural Pregnancy Health Risks Grow as Care Options Disappear
Out of the 36 percent of U.S. counties designated as maternity care deserts, 61 percent are rural. “we’re seeing a trend… especially accelerated through the pandemic, of hospitals closing OB and labor and delivery units,” says NRHA’s Alexa McKinley. “Access is going to continue to decline unless drastic measures are taken.” Additionally, as rural maternity wards shutter, urban ones struggle as well.
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August 23, 2024
New Journal of Rural Health (JRH) Articles on Mental Health Access Barriers, More
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Journal of Rural Health recently published new articles on the following topics:
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August 19, 2024
Rural Health Research: Changes in Rural Pharmacy Presence 2023
This data brief provides information on rural communities that have kept, lost, or gained a retail pharmacy between 2018 to 2023.
Click Here to Read Brief
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.
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June 27, 2024
New Articles – Today’s Essential Health Workforce Updates
Check out these new articles, which were funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through BHW’s Health Workforce Research Centers:
June 27, 2024
MedPAC June Report to Congress Highlights Rural Considerations for Medicare Advantage Provider Networks
As part of its mandate from Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) reports each June on improvements to Medicare payment systems and issues affecting the Medicare program, including changes to health care delivery and the market for health care services.
This year’s report addresses approaches for:
Click Here to Read Full Report
June 26, 2024
Using Kaspersky Antivirus Software? It is Now Banned in the U.S.
Why is Kaspersky Getting Banned?
Kaspersky is getting banned in the US after the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) conducted a review of the company’s cybersecurity and anti-virus transactions.
What Does This Mean to Current Kaspersky Users?
Kaspersky’s ban in the U.S. shouldn’t come as a surprise. The firm has been on the government’s radar for quite some time.
In 2017, the US banned the use of the Moscow-based cyber security firm’s products across all government agencies.
Read more from the Bureau of Industry & Security website.
