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.

Treating Rural America: The New Country Doctors
Part 2 of a documentary discussing rural residencies and the role of a rural physician. Discusses retaining rural physicians through residency programs and funding of those programs. Captions are available in the video player. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 12, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Closure of Hospital in Small Michigan Village Is Window into Rural Health Care Challenges
Describes the impact of a hospital closure on a rural Michigan town. Discusses displacement of long-term care residents, workforce distribution and recruitment, maternity care, emergency services, in-home healthcare, the economic impact of a closure, and more. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 12, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

As Rural Residents Age, Some Kansas and Missouri Communities Step up to Help
Describes challenges with aging in place in rural Kansas and Missouri. Discusses access to healthcare due to workforce shortages, informal caregiving, availability of human services, and access to long-term care facilities. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 8, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Calls Are Up, Volunteers Are Down. A Crisis Looms for Vermont's Fire Departments
Discusses a shortage of fire department volunteers in Vermont. 88% of fire departments in Vermont are staffed in part or entirely by volunteers. Calls have tripled in the last 30 years with most of the calls being emergency medical calls for traffic accidents. Discusses the impact that the economy has on people's ability to volunteer. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 5, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Long-Term Health Is Focus of New Paper Highlighting the Logging Industry
Summarizes a new study examining health and safety in the Maine logging community. Includes an infographic describing injury, pain, and risk factors for loggers. Notes that logging is both a high-risk industry and often rural, meaning access to healthcare can be important but challenging. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 3, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Rural America a Focus for Bipartisan Health Caucus Formed in U.S. House
Announcement of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus which has been formed to focus on rural health issues including hospital closures, reimbursement rates, workforce, health inequities, and care delivery models. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - October 2, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Congenital Syphilis Rates Are Soaring, but Resources to Stem Infections Are Lacking
Highlights the rise in congenital syphilis rates. The highest rates are found in the South, Southwest, and in Native populations. Discusses public health funding, screening, access to maternal healthcare in rural communities, stigma, and racism. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 29, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Nighttime Harvests Protect Farmworkers From Extreme Heat, but Bring Other Risks
In an attempt to avoid dangerous heat during harvest, some farmworkers are working at night. Outlines risks and challenges associated with this work including limited visibility, fatigue, gender-based violence, and childcare. Notes that night work on farms is understudied, and so the risks are not fully understood. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 27, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

For Rural Communities, Broadband Expansion Is No Single Thing
Describes the challenges with providing high-speed internet service in rural communities, discussing in particular infrastructure and affordability issues. Notes that reliable high-speed internet can provide better access to healthcare and emergency services. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 26, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Small-Town Fire Department Helps Fill Gaps in Postpartum Care
Highlights Project Swaddle, a program run by a rural Indiana fire department providing education and care to pregnant and postpartum women. Discusses a national trend of declining access to maternal care in local hospitals and mortality. Results show a reduction in emergency department visits and higher breastfeeding rates among other successes. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 26, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Treating Rural America: The Last Doctor in Town
Part 1 of a documentary discussing shortages of physicians in rural areas. Offers overview of why shortages exist including historic trends in physician training, clinic ownership trends, facility closures, and more. Captions are available in the video player. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 25, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

FCC Seeks Further Comment on 5G Fund for Rural America
Requesting comments on the Federal Communications Commission plan to increase 5G service to rural communities. Specific issues include budget allocation, defining areas eligible for bidding, inclusion of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, inclusion of cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans, and use of the Open Radio Access Networks. Comments can be submitted electronically athttps://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/ or mailed by October 23rd. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 22, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

HHS Awards $45 Million in Grants to Expand Access to Care for People with Long COVID
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $45 million, through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to support existing multidisciplinary Long COVID clinics in the U.S. Seeks to expand access to care for populations disproportionally impacted by Long COVID, including underserved, rural, vulnerable, and minority populations. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 20, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Primary Care Providers Can Play Key Role in Delivering Survivorship Care in Rural Areas
Discusses care coordination between primary care physicians and specialists for rural cancer survivors. Notes that good communication between the care team can ensure that each participant understands everyone's scope of practice and what guidelines are being followed. Describes a project offering educational intervention to primary care physicians and tracking quality measures to find improvement in guideline-concordant care. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 20, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Encouraging Rural Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care Models Request for Input (RFI)
Request for input from rural stakeholders by the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) on issues and opportunities around population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC). Particular areas of interest include rural definitions, characteristics and needs of Medicare beneficiaries, characteristics and needs of rural providers, barriers to participations in alternative payment models, value-based care, social determinants of health, workforce development, and more. Comments can be emailed to PTAC@HHS.gov by October 20th. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 20, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news