Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce supply and demand
Sep 26, 2023 - Discusses the benefits and challenges with providing healthcare through telehealth for Latino residents of rural California. Notes that broadband access, language, and limited healthcare workforce as barriers to access to healthcare using telehealth. Highlights telehealth programs in New York and California working with Latino adults.
Source: American Heart Association News
Sep 25, 2023 - 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: Stat News
Sep 18, 2023 - Describes the primary care options for a rural Alabama town where the only 2 practicing physicians are considering retirement. The fire department with emergency medics on staff is one method for filling the void. Telehealth kiosks provided nearby is another.
Source: NPR, KFF Health News
Sep 18, 2023 - The Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program provides 64% of Texas public school students access to free mental health telemedicine. Notes that the program is especially beneficial in rural areas that are more likely to have a shortage of mental healthcare professionals and fewer school resources.
Source: ABC Amarillo
Sep 18, 2023 - Highlights a diversion program for people jailed with substance use or mental health condition in a rural and tribal Arizona county. Notes challenges include finding a provider to work through the program as well as ensuring culturally competent care and equitable access for the tribal population. Includes information on the grant used to fund the program.
Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice
Rural Hospitals Are Closing Maternity Wards. People Are Seeking Options to Give Birth Closer to Home
Sep 17, 2023 - Describes the lack of maternity units in rural hospitals. More than 2 million women live in maternity care deserts. Notes reasons for recent closures include reimbursement rates, workforce issues, fewer births, and financial difficulties for rural facilities. Discusses possibilities and challenges that come with free-standing birth centers, proposed as a solution to the shortages.
Source: ABC News
Sep 14, 2023 - Offers overview of a federal proposal to set minimum staffing levels at U.S. nursing homes and discusses the potential impact on rural facilities, primarily facility closures. Discusses workforce shortages, quality of care issues, and access to specialty care.
Source: NPR, KFF Health News
Sep 13, 2023 - Discusses police response to mental health crises in rural Georgia. Sheriffs in 6 rural counties have partnered to hire and share mental health professionals to respond to mental health crisis calls along with deputies. Describes challenges with the partnership including mental health workforce shortages and the need for funding.
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting
Sep 11, 2023 - Describes the role nurse practitioners (NPs) could play in easing physician shortages and hospital closings in rural areas. Between 2008 and 2016, rural physicians declined 12.8% and NPs increased 17.6%. Notes the holistic training NPs receive as especially beneficial in rural communities. Discusses concerns by other healthcare practitioners regarding scope creep and patient safety.
Source: Health Leaders Media
Sep 8, 2023 - Summarizes discussions had at a Georgia State Senate committee meeting tasked with studying workforce shortages in rural areas of the state. Discusses Health Professional Shortage Areas, recruitment and retention challenges, hospital closures, and reimbursement rates.
Source: GPB News, PBS, NPR