Rural Spotlight

Telehealth Resources for Patients and Providers, Funding Opportunities, and Research

October 31, 2024

Telehealth Resources for Patients and Providers, Funding Opportunities, and Research

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) telehealth website offers a number of resources for patients and providers looking to utilize services via telehealth.

Their website also offers funding opportunities related to telehealth and broadband programs, as well as a research section.

Click Here to Access Telehealth Resources

Click Here to View Funding Opportunities

Click Here to Read Research Articles

Best Practices Guide: Using Telehealth in Hybrid Care

October 29, 2024

Best Practices Guide: Using Telehealth in Hybrid Care

A hybrid care approach uses a combination of virtual and in-person appointments to deliver appropriate care.

Hybrid telehealth, also called integrated care, combines in-person health care appointments with telehealth. This approach prioritizes the joint decision between the patient and their provider regarding whether and when a virtual visit is appropriate. A hybrid care approach offers flexible access to health care. This is especially useful for people who have difficulty getting to the provider’s office or need frequent care.

This best practice guide provides detailed information and resources for providers and health care organizations on how to use a hybrid care approach that integrates telehealth and in-person care.

What’s in the guide:

  • How to get started
  • Developing a strategy for hybrid care
  • Billing for hybrid care services
  • Preparing patients for hybrid care

Click Here to Access the Guide

Licensure Compacts: Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Care

October 29, 2024

Licensure Compacts: Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Care

Telehealth plays a significant role in meeting the need for behavioral health services and behavioral health professionals are subject to state licensure regulations, including for telehealth.

Learn how licensure compacts can improve access to behavioral health care.

Click Here to Watch the Video

Click Here to Learn more about Licensure Compacts

Click Here to Learn more about Licensure for Behavioral Health

Health Equity Webinar Series

October 29, 2024

Health Equity Webinar Series

Rural America faces disproportionate social and economic disparities compared to urban settings, often leading to poor health outcomes for rural patients and their communities. Achieving health equity and addressing the needs of rural populations requires systematic, community-wide change.

Stroudwater Associates has developed a three-part webinar series that speaks to the challenges of rural healthcare and the newly adopted MBQIP health equity quality measures.

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) invites you to join us this webinar series on Health Equity. You can register for each meeting using the links provided, below.

  • Health Equity: Overview and Strategy, Friday, November 15, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Register Here
    • This session provides an overview of the importance of health equity and social determinants of health, the new CMS/MBQIP Health Equity measures, and the importance of incorporating health equity into an organization’s strategy and understanding strategies to prioritize health equity.
  • Health Equity: Data Collection/Analysis, Monday, December 2, 2024 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Register Here
    • This session will cover the importance of health data with an overview of data collection best practices. Examples will be provided.
  • Health Equity: Community Collaboration and Implementation Evaluation, Friday, December 20, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Register Here
    • This session will cover the importance of community collaboration and overcoming partnership barriers as well as sustaining activities and measuring success and outcomes.

New FMT Policy Brief: CAH Perspectives on Collection and Use of Demographic and Social Drivers of Health Data

October 29, 2024

New FMT Policy Brief: CAH Perspectives on Collection and Use of Demographic and Social Drivers of Health Data

The Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) recently released a new policy brief, CAH Perspectives on Collection and Use of Demographic and Social Drivers of Health Data. The brief explores the experiences of nine Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), in collecting and using demographic and/or social drivers of health (SDOH) data.

Challenges faced by CAHs during data collection:

  • Interviewee discomfort
  • Difficulty offering patient resources
  • Logistical or technical challenges
  • Limited staff capacity
  • Other broad challenges

Despite these challenges, CAHs described being able to use the demographic and/or SDOH data in various ways:

  • For individual patient needs
  • To assess community characteristics and needs
  • To assess health outcomes and utilization
  • To create or leverage partnerships
  • To plan for expanding data collection

Staff training, involvement with community partnerships, and collaboration with State Flex Programs will facilitate the best and standard practices of demographic and/or SDOH data collection, as well as data usage for CAHs.

Click Here to view policy brief

RHIhub Topic Guide: Finding Statistics and Data Related to Rural Health

October 28, 2024

RHIhub Topic Guide: Finding Statistics and Data Related to Rural Health

This Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) Topic Guide will help you locate and accurately use statistics and data to:

  • Understand rural health needs and rural/urban disparities
  • Communicate rural health needs
  • Inform decision-making related to service delivery and policy

Click Here to Access Topic Guide

Many providers of rural-relevant data rely on the same small number of federal data sets for their data products.

Click Here to Access Data Sources & Tools Relevant to Rural Health

New Funding Opportunity: Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals – HRSA-25-068

October 28, 2024

New Funding Opportunity: Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals – HRSA-25-068

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to improve access to behavioral health services.

The purpose of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals is to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals and improve the distribution of a quality behavioral health workforce. The program has a specific focus on understanding the needs of children, adolescents, and young adults at risk for mental health, trauma, and behavioral health disorders.

The BHWET Program for Professionals prepares the workforce by emphasizing interprofessional team-based models of care, integrating behavioral health training in primary care settings and recruiting a diverse workforce interested in serving high need and high demand areas. The program also invests increasing the number of clinical supervisors.

Eligible Applicants

  • Public and private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Hospitals and rural health clinics
  • State and local governments
  • Domestic faith-based and community-based organizations
  • Tribal governments and organizations

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on January 21, 2025

Click Here to Apply

Jab Gab Webinar Series: Childhood and Adolescent Vaccination Updates for Health Professionals

October 28, 2024

Jab Gab Webinar Series: Childhood and Adolescent Vaccination Updates for Health Professionals

Don’t miss the next session on childhood and adolescent vaccination updates for Health Professionals.

Webinars will also be recorded and available On-demand a week following the live event.

Registration allows you to participate in the live Zoom webinar or watch the recorded video. You must be registered to claim credit and may claim only once for each session. Recorded videos will be available until May 31, 2025. You may not claim credit after May 31, 2025.

By the end of the series, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the significance of completing childhood recommended vaccination schedule, including public health implications and individual health benefits
  • Differentiate evidence-based interventions (EBIs) that increases vaccination completion rates among children
  • Implement evidence-based strategies to improve childhood vaccination rates among children

Webinar Schedule:

  • November 12, 12:00 – 1:00
    • Punt Away Respiratory Illness – RSV/Pneumococcal Vaccination
  • December 3, 12:00 – 1:00
    • How to Address Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy
  • January 7, 12:00 – 1:00
    • HPV and Adolescent Vaccine Schedules
  • February 4, 12:00 – 1:00
    • Addressing Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy

Cost: Free

Click Here to Learn More and Register

Register Now: Missouri Rural Health Conference, November 6-7

October 28, 2024

Register Now: Missouri Rural Health Conference, November 6-7

The Missouri Rural Health Conference, jointly hosted by the Missouri Rural Health Association and the Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics, will take place on November 6-7, 2024, at the beautiful Lodge at Old Kinderhook in Camdenton, Missouri. This event promises to bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and advocates to discuss critical issues and innovations in rural health.

Key Highlights of the Conference

  • Expert keynote presentations on the latest trends and policies in rural health
  • Interactive breakout sessions focused on practical solutions and best practices
  • Networking opportunities to connect with peers and industry leaders
  • Exhibitor showcase featuring the latest products and services for rural healthcare providers

Click Here to View Agenda

Registration Fee: $200

When: November 6 -7, 2024

Where: Old Kinderhook, Camdenton, MO

Click Here to Register