Category: Current Affairs

National Rural Health Resource Center – Population Health Toolkit

February 1, 2023

National Rural Health Resource Center – Population Health Toolkit

The Population Health Toolkit brings together tools and information to support improving your awareness as your organization journeys into population health management.

Resources in the toolkit include:

  • Putting Data to Use
  • Population Health Readiness Assessment
  • Leadership
  • Understanding Value-Based Models
  • Strategic Planning Resources
  • Data Collection, Management, and Analysis
  • Quality, Operations, and Processes Resources
  • Resources to learn more about identifying population health partners
  • Workforce and Culture
  • Outcomes and Impact

Click Here to Learn More

COVID-19 Single-Dose Vial (SDV) Vaccines Available for Rural Health Clinics

February 1, 2023

COVID-19 Single-Dose Vial (SDV) Vaccines Available for Rural Health Clinics

In November 2022, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent vaccine for people 12 years of age and older became available to order through the Rural Health Clinic COVID-19

Vaccine Distribution Program (RHCVD) program as a single dose vial (SDV).

While the vaccine is still available in multi-dose vials, the single-dose option responds to widespread requests to allow greater flexibility for RHCs that may not have the demand or capacity to store multi-dose vials.

RHCs enrolled in the RHCVD Program can order SDV through the Health Partner Order Portal (HPOP).

If an RHC is not enrolled in the RHCVD Program and wants more information, they can email  RHCVaxDistribution@hrsa.gov.

Health and Human Services Office of Intergovenmental and External Affairs (HHS IEA) mpox Briefing

January 31, 2023

Health and Human Services Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (HHS IEA) mpox Briefing

Please join the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, the White House National mpox Response team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) for a mpox briefing Thursday 2/2 at 2:00 PM ET.

Date: Thursday, February 2
Time: 2:00 PM
Please register using this link. 

Culturally and Competency Training for Staff/First Responders in Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Response

January 26, 2023

Culturally and Competency Training for Staff/First Responders in Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Response

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) – Offered by Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN)

Research shows that cultural minority groups suffer disproportionately during every phase of a disaster. This e-learning program from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to best serve all individuals, regardless of cultural or linguistic background.

Why Use Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Throughout a Disaster?

Have you experienced a time when you did not know how to best serve individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds before, after, or during a disaster? Did you know that racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to suffer worse outcomes than the general population during every phase of a disaster?

This set of courses is designed to help you deliver culturally and linguistically competent services in disaster situations. Cultural and linguistic competency is the capacity for individuals and organizations to work and communicate effectively in cross-cultural situations. Cultural and linguistic competency can help improve the quality of the care you deliver to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

This free e-learning program from the HHS Office of Minority Health is accredited for up to 9 continuing education credits, at no cost, for emergency medical personnel/first responders, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, and up to 12 hours for dentists. After completing the required Course 1, you may take the remaining courses in any order you like.

This e-learning program is grounded in the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care. These standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health disparities. The National CLAS Standards provide you with a blueprint for increasing your cultural and linguistic competency.

Take the Course HERE

DHSS promotes funding transparency, accountability through interactive dashboard and stories

January 23, 2023

Dashboard connects nearly $1.2 billion from 88 projects to House and Senate districts

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) published a new dashboard at Health.Mo.Gov/funding that allows users to explore how nearly $1.2 billion in federal funding is benefiting Missourians. As legislative leaders began the budget process formally last week by hearing Governor Parson’s budget recommendations th­is dashboard will help explain where COVID-19 public health funding is headed by each House and Senate district, Missouri county and federal funding act. This public health dashboard compliments the statewide ARPA dashboard by showing funding from seven federal funding acts including ARPA, CARES Act and more.

“Public health is worth investing in,” said, Paula Nickelson, acting director of DHSS. “We know that with an increase in funding, we must also increase our ability to transparently reflect where that money is going and h ow it is benefiting Missourians. This influx of funding represents a unique, unprecedented opportunity to use short-term funding to enhance systems and impact the public’s health for generations.”

The dashboard is accompanied by five multimedia stories, which are the first five stories in a series that will highlight major innovations supported by this funding. Additional stories will be added over the next several months to showcase projects within local public health agencies, area agencies on aging and other critical partners.

The stories include:

  • Vital records: building a fully digital, comprehensive system for 112 years’ worth of records, including birth, death and marriage records.
  • Testing speed: new equipment automated manual processes, increased capacity and allowed for faster test results.
  • Disease monitoring: improved equipment combined with a new partnership with MU enhanced Missouri’s ability to track diseases and variants.
  • Closed-loop recycling program: created laboratory supplies during extreme supply chain disruptions by recycling 1,500 pounds of plastic waste.
  • Improving nutrition: Missouri WIC increased funding for fruits and vegetables, and will build a digital data dashboard.

 

 

 

HRSA Webinar – Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations

January 23, 2023

HRSA Webinar – Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations

Tuesday, February 7, 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm CT

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) IEA’s first session of the learning series, “Getting to Know HRSA” will explore HRSA’s priority areas, programs, funding, and technical resources available to support organizations providing health and social services to Hispanic/Latino populations. During the session, participants will have the opportunity to hear about effective ways to collaborate and stay connected to HRSA to leverage resources and gain access to innovative and high-value programs. The session will be broadcast in Spanish with live language interpretation to English.

Register Here

 

USDA to Create Plan to Expand Recreation Economies and Help People Thrive Across Rural America

January 20, 2023

USDA to Create Plan to Expand Recreation Economies and Help People Thrive Across Rural America

Rural Development, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and U.S. Forest Service Partner to Create New Tools and Resources

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  announced that it will create a plan to expand recreation economies to help people thrive across rural America.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding, USDA Rural Development, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the U.S. Forest Service will partner to develop an annual plan to expand economic opportunities related to recreation in communities surrounding America’s national forests.

The annual plan will outline the ways the agencies will partner to conduct program outreach, host informational sessions and workshops, and develop toolkits to help people access the resources they need to thrive in recreation economies.

To learn more, read the full Stakeholder Announcement.

USDA Seeks Applications to Improve Rural Transportation Systems, Opening the Door to Economic Opportunities for People Living in Rural Communities

January 19, 2023

USDA Seeks Applications to Improve Rural Transportation Systems, Opening the Door to Economic Opportunities for People Living in Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is accepting applications to enhance the operation of rural transportation systems. These investments in rural transportation systems build opportunities and prosperity for the people who live in rural communities by connecting them to economic resources they may not otherwise be able to access.

The grants are part of the Rural Business Development Grant program. Eligible applicants are qualified, experienced national organizations seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve passenger transportation services and facilities. USDA does not provide funding directly to individuals or businesses under this program.

USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities create more and better market opportunities, advance equity and combat climate change. These extra points will increase the likelihood of funding. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.

Applications will be scored, reviewed and selected on a competitive basis. Applications must be submitted to the applicant’s nearest USDA office by April 19, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. local time. Additional information is available on page 3376 of the Jan. 19, 2023, Federal Register.

To learn more, read the full Stakeholder Announcement.

NRHA Webinar – Nursing Labor Update: View from the Mountaintops

January 19, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Nursing Labor Update: View from the Mountaintops

Wednesday, Feb 2, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CST

Michelle Hehman, MSN, RN, 15+ years of acute hospital experience and former nurse manager of Emergency Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Jessica Flege, BSN, RN, CMSRN, 10 years of acute care management and certified Medical Surgical Nurse, will discuss the trajectory of the nursing industry and the impact that it is expected to have on staffing, as well as insight into how flexible staffing solutions can help to maintain optimal nurse-patient ratios.

Learning objectives:

  • An overview of the U.S. Nursing workforce, impactful milestones, and the ‘Silver Tsunami’
  • The devastating effects that short staffing has on every hospital
  • Sustainable solutions for delivering optimal nurse staffing
  • How rural hospitals can benefit from flexible staffing solutions

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar – Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, a Transitional Care Model

January 19, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, a Transitional Care Model

Thursday, Feb 16, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CST

Allevant, a joint venture between Mayo Clinic and Select Medical, helps Critical Access Hospitals by developing post-acute Transitional Care programs using available Swing Beds. Focused on helping patients transition to their highest level of independence, Transitional Care is a program that involves the patient and family, makes available the full resources of the Critical Access Hospital and focuses on measured outcomes and evidence-based processes to ensure patients get the best care possible.

Allevant has supported approximately 100 Critical Access Hospitals across 22 states including both independent and part of health systems. Our clients have cared for over 12,000 patients representing more than 158,000 swing bed days.

With a strong focus on quality, outcomes, and growth, our clients saw an average growth in swing bed days of 55% by the second year. 64% of patients were categorized as complex medical or complex surgical which is a growing patient population, and only 7% of Transitional Care patients were discharged directly back to acute care during a program stay of less than 30 days. 76% of patients were discharged from Transitional Care back to independence. The average patient rating was 4.83 out of 5 when asked if patients would “recommend the program to others”.

Learn more at www.Allevant.com

Click Here to Register