November 27, 2023
Updated RHIhub Topic Guide
The Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) recently updated their topic guide that shares resources and information to help rural communities address their emergency preparedness and response needs.
Included in the topic guides:
Additional Emergency Preparedness Resources
November 17, 2023
NRHA Career Center – Your Resource to Thousands of Registered Candidates
Rural health needs those who go above and beyond. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Career Center is your resource for qualified health care professionals.
Posting to the NRHA Career Center makes your needs visible to NRHA members and those of nearly 300 more health care professional associations. For employers, it offers one-stop access to highly talented, experienced health care professionals in a wide range of specialties, with NRHA members receiving discounted rates.
For candidates, it offers tools and resources for maximum exposure to health care employers for free with excellent opportunities.
NRHA Career Center Account Benefits for Employers
NRHA Career Center Account Benefits for Job Seekers
NRHA Career Center Resources
Find out why thousands of registered candidates rely on NRHA’s Career Center to fill positions, sign up today.
November 17, 2023
Telehealth Resources for Patients and Providers
Last month the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released two new resources for patients to increase understanding around protecting health information when receiving health care services via telehealth. The first document is more extensive and geared toward providers informing patients, while the second contains direct recommendations to patients:
Provider Resource
Patient Resource
The guidance documents are intended to help educate patients about potential privacy risks when using telehealth and ways to mitigate such risks.
October 26, 2023
Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth
ProviderBridge.org was created through the CARES Act by the Federation of State Medical Boards and HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing by state as well as a provider portal to connect volunteer health care professionals to state agencies and health care entities.
Provider Bridge facilitates mobilizing verified health care providers to health care entities and communities where they are needed most.
Learn more about Provider Bridge
Additional Resources
October 26, 2023
HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network
A joint program of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients. Teams of critical care clinicians – critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialized clinical experts – are available to deliver virtual care through telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians, and email to learn more and sign up.
October 24, 2023
Mental Health Resources for Rural Residents
A large part of caring for one’s physical health and well-being is mental health. Access to mental health care in rural areas can be a challenge, though.
The rural lifestyle is very different from the way people live in more urban areas. The pace of life in less densely populated areas is slower and more solitary, and these areas have been particularly impacted by the declining agricultural industry and often face financial hardship. Factors such as these are directly correlated with an increased risk of suicide in rural communities.
Over 6 million rural individuals struggle with mental illness or other psychiatric disorders, and it can be difficult to find and receive treatment for these conditions in rural areas. Oftentimes, people who live in these areas have minimal or no insurance coverage for mental illness. They may also have fewer options for mental health care providers or have to travel long distances to see one.
The Missouri Office of Rural Health is dedicated to informing rural communities about and emphasizing the importance of mental health, while also providing information on mental health resources across the state. Taking care of your mental health is part of caring for your overall health. Conditions such as depression or anxiety are legitimate illnesses, like diabetes or arthritis.
Rural residents can visit online resources like LiveAnotherDay for help with locating mental health resources and providers across the state of Missouri. Please visit the resources linked below for more information related to rural mental health in Missouri and nationwide.
Missouri Mental Health Resources
Nationwide Mental Health Resources
October 17, 2023
Patient and Provider Featured Telehealth Resources
Want to learn more about telehealth? Need resources to guide your organization towards telehealth? Telehealth.HHS.gov shares trusted telehealth resources for patients and providers.
Resources for Providers Include:
Resources for Patients Include:
October 17, 2023
Prescribing Controlled Medications via Telehealth
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has extended the full set of telemedicine flexibilities regarding the prescribing of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), through December 31, 2024.
Authorized providers are able to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth if they meet certain criteria.
Telemedicine flexibilities regarding prescription of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency include:
For more information, see:
Prescribing Controlled Substances via Telehealth
Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications – from the Federal Register
Interstate licensure resources for health care providers, states, and health care organizations
October 17, 2023
AHRQ Free Health Literacy Toolkits and Guides
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) offers Free information to promote organizational policies and procedures which can foster the inclusion of patients and family while creating collaborative partnerships with other providers.
Free Tools
October 17, 2023
Health Literacy Toolkits, GIFS and Educational Resources
October is Health Literacy Month – Join the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC), a non-profit training organization, for this international observance when hospitals, health centers, literacy programs, libraries, social service agencies, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, consumer alliances, and many other groups work together to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy.
Often patients don’t comply because they either don’t understand what is communicated or they are subject to Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) issues.
Check out these AIHC courses to support your organization:
