Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Oct 26, 2025 - Discusses the impact of the expansion of Medicaid dental benefits on the oral health of Missouri residents. Notes that areas with dental workforce shortages are less likely to feel the positive impact of increases in reimbursement rates.
Source: Kansas City Magazine
Oct 24, 2025 - Profiles a University of Nebraska at Kearney student athlete participating in a program to increase the rural healthcare workforce in the state. Describes the program's experiential learning opportunities as well as how religion and sports are helping prepare him to work in rural healthcare.
Source: Central Nebraska Today
Oct 23, 2025 - Highlights a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in rural Minnesota successfully offering labor and delivery services in spite of nationwide department closures. Describes the challenges with offering this service in rural communities and factors contributing to this CAH's success including participating in a network and cross-training staff. Includes a state map of maternity care deserts at the county level.
Source: MPR News
Oct 21, 2025 - Describes a philanthropic investment into the East Carolina University Center for Medical Education in the Brody School of Medicine. The funding will expand the facilities and bring new technologies to the school. Discusses the goals of both the school and philanthropic partner to improve rural health outcomes by increasing the rural physician workforce.
Source: ECU News Services
Oct 20, 2025 - Describes a partnership between a medical school and healthcare system to provide funds to train physicians to work in rural New York. Profiles a student in the program.
Source: WSYR-TV
Oct 16, 2025 - Discusses the goals of a new nonprofit foundation tasked with providing direct funding for rural Alabama hospitals to help keep emergency departments open, modernize facilities, recruit and retain workforce, expand access, and integrate with the community. Discusses a recent trend toward facility closures in the state and other policy measures attempting to reverse the trend.
Source: Tuscaloosa Thread
Oct 15, 2025 - Highlights the work of rural health fellows at Augusta University in Georgia. Discusses the benefits to both the rural communities and the fellows themselves. Notes the potential for retaining fellows in rural practice where there are workforce shortages for both primary and specialty care.
Source: Jagwire
Oct 14, 2025 - A rural Montana sheriff's department is offering deputies a first responder medical training and certification program. The program would allow deputies to assist emergency medical services (EMS) providers in situations with multiple victims or provide aid while waiting for EMS to arrive. Notes that understaffing, poor weather, and large service areas can make EMS response times long. Discusses upcoming work by the state legislature to address EMS challenges.
Source: EMS 1
Oct 14, 2025 - Describes a trend toward using mobile health clinics in rural and other communities to increase access to healthcare. Discusses how mobile clinics can fill gaps in telehealth services, improve health outcomes, be used for community paramedicine programs, develop the healthcare workforce, and more. Notes the need for better data and more funding to continue research on the impact of mobile clinics.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Oct 14, 2025 - Highlights a newly funded program in an Alabama community college to address workforce shortages in rural Alabama. The program aims to recruit local residents into healthcare positions through facility tours, shadowing opportunities, and clinicals in rural facilities. Additionally, new degree pathways and dual enrollment programs will allow students to obtain credentials more quickly.
Source: WDHN