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Rural Health
News by Topic: Health conditions

Jun 3, 2026 - Describes a pilot program that aims to increase lung cancer screenings in rural Minnesota. Discusses higher rates of tobacco use for rural adults compared to urban adults and how the program addresses cancer screening barriers through a "whole-of-office" approach.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jun 2, 2026 - Describes the American Heart Association's Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator, a program designed to assist rural hospitals with implementing evidence-based heart disease and stroke care. The 3-year free program includes access to resources, peer-learning and collaboration, and the AHA's Get With The Guidelines program. Highlights improved outcomes at hospitals across the country as part of participation in the program. Enrollment is open through June 2028.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Jun 2, 2026 - Highlights North Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding that will address nutrition and physical activity. Discusses chronic illness in the state and describes some of the programs hoping to be awarded funding including community walking programs, gardening programs, and school-based physical activity programs.
Source: ND News Cooperative
May 28, 2026 - A rural Alabama county sheriff's office has purchased 16 automated external defibrillators and 2 trauma first aid kits. Notes that area emergency medical services units have large service areas and law enforcement often respond to emergencies more quickly.
Source: WTVM
May 26, 2026 - 5 rural eastern Kentucky county health departments have created a collaborative to work on prevention, education, access to resources, and long-term strategies for improving chronic disease outcomes in the area.
Source: Kentucky Health News
May 22, 2026 - Discusses the current H5N1 risks in the U.S. for farmworkers and others. Discusses use of personal protective equipment and the role of public health departments in building community trust for improved reporting and prevention efforts.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine News
May 21, 2026 - Congress has reauthorized Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) funding at $200 million for fiscal year 2026, an increase of $41 million above the previous funding level. An additional $50 million has been allocated for the first three months of FY 2027.
Source: Indian Health Service
May 20, 2026 - Interview with Andrew M. Southerland, professor of neurology and public health sciences at the University of Virginia. Describes how the UVA telestroke program helps ensure that patients receive timely evaluation and treatment recommendations near home, while also identifying patients who may benefit from transfer to a comprehensive stroke center.
Source: DocWire News
May 15, 2026 - Interview with former Mayo Clinic lead lab technologist Jim Checkel, who has developed a curriculum to train future rural healthcare providers and researchers. Since buying a Minnesota farm in 1992 Checkel has hosted over 12,000 people at events where students learn about agriculture-related topics, including mechanical injuries and diseases related to farming.
Source: The Daily Yonder
May 13, 2026 - A new survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) highlights the challenges rural cancer patients face in accessing screening, finding affordable care, and arranging followup treatment. Patient navigation services help address barriers to care in rural areas and improve quality of care.
Source: American Cancer Society