News stories via the Rural Assistance Center This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Rural Vermont Community Finds Success Distributing Narcan With a Vending Machine
Highlights the impact of a naloxone vending machine in a rural Vermont community. Describes the trend to offer naloxone not just through vending machines but also through awareness programming throughout rural America. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - November 9, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

The Biden-Harris Administration Is Taking Actions to Improve the Health of Rural Communities and Help Rural Health Care Providers Stay Open
Highlights actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration with regard to rural healthcare. Areas addressed include access to health insurance, facility closures, cyber security, workforce shortages, telehealth, access to healthcare, and more. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - November 3, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

The Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announce November 17, 2023 Roundtable on the Connected Future of Maternity Care: Intersecting Maternal Health and Broadband Data
A roundtable will be convened on November 17th to discuss broadband as a social determinant of health and the potential for improving maternal health outcomes. The roundtable will be both in person and streamed online and is available to the public. Invited stakeholders include policymakers, public health experts, clinicians, community organizations, and more. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - November 2, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Treating Rural America: The Telehealth Solution
Part 3 of a documentary highlighting telehealth as a solution to healthcare access challenges, particularly for gender affirming care and maternal healthcare. Discusses the impacts of COVID on telehealth practice. Discusses barriers to telehealth such as broadband access and comfort with technology. Captions are available in the video player. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - November 2, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FCC Launches Inquiry to Increase Minimum Broadband Speed Benchmark
The Federal Communications Commission has announced a Notice of Inquiry to evaluate the FCC's standard for broadband. States that the current standard is outdated, causing an undercount of the number of rural and other communities with insufficient high-speed internet. The inquiry will also set long-term goals for gigabit speeds and evaluate broadband data collection impacts. Comments may be submitted by December 1st. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - November 1, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Aging Boomers Can't Find Caregivers in Rural WA. Who Can Fill the Gap?
Highlights the shortage of professional caregivers in Washington, particularly in rural areas. Discusses the role informal caregivers play in filling that gap along with the costs associated with caregiving. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 31, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

State Health Leaders Look to Close Digital Divide for Farmworkers
Federal funding through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Rural Health aims to address the digital divide for farmworkers in the state. Discusses the role of internet access in improving health outcomes as well as health disparities for agricultural workers both in North Carolina and nationally. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 31, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

State's First Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship Hopes to Increase Access to Maternal Care in Rural Areas
A fellowship to train family medicine physicians in obstetrics has been established in Mississippi, a state with a shortage of maternal healthcare in rural areas and high maternal and infant mortality rates. Discusses the history of maternal healthcare licensure and liability insurance, leading to the shortage of physicians offering obstetrics services. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 30, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Online Training Enables Primary Care Providers in Rural New Mexico to Prescribe Medication for Opioid Use Disorders
Describes a project that trains rural primary care providers in New Mexico on offering medication-assisted treatment to patients with opioid use disorder (MOUD). Discusses how the Project ECHO model has increased MOUD care access in rural areas. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 27, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Medical School on Cherokee Reservation Will Soon Send Doctors to Tribal and Rural Areas
An Oklahoma State University physician training program is set to graduate its first class. It is the only program in the nation on a reservation, and it aims to increase the number of physicians from Native American and rural communities. The curriculum includes culturally relevant content. Discusses access to care issues for Cherokee residents. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 26, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Rural Mental Health Crisis Centers Proposed for Wisconsin
Highlights mental health resource gaps in Wisconsin and the proposed crisis urgent care and observation centers to address the gaps. While location is still being decided, rural mental healthcare shortages and long distances to currently available care is being factored into the decision. Discusses the burden placed on small-town law enforcement in responding to mental health issues. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 25, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Millions of Rural Americans Rely on Private Wells. Few Regularly Test Their Water.
Highlights an Iowan environmental health officer's efforts to test and treat private well water using government funding. States that these wells are at risk of contamination from nearby farms and industrial sites, putting well water users at risk of long-term health issues. Notes that potentially more than one-fifth of private wells are contaminated, but most are not required to receive regular testing. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 24, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Rural Health Clinic at the Forefront of Telemed Technology
3 part series on health disparities in a rural West Texas town and their use of telemedicine to address the disparities. Part 1 discusses workforce distribution and low population density. Part 2 describes how a telemedicine appointment works and the implication for preventative care. Part 3 discusses sustainability and long-term plans for the health center. Captions available in the video player. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 20, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FCC Invites Public Comment on Broadband Connectivity & Maternal Health
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requesting comments on ways FCC can contribute to improvement of maternal healthcare, both generally and through enhancement of the Mapping Broadband Health in America tool. Also seeks information on current broadband-enabled health technologies and barriers to maternal healthcare. Comments may be submitted until November 20th. Replies to comments may be submitted until December 19th. The Notice of Inquiry discusses rural-specific access issues. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 20, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

National Rural Health Day Provides an Opportunity for Philanthropy to Engage and Support Underserved Communities
Highlights National Rural Health Day on November 16th. Notes events hosted across federal agencies and offers examples of ways philanthropies can participate. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 20, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news