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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Networking and collaboration

Mar 18, 2026 - Offers lessons for implementing large-scale state-based programs like the Rural Health Transformation Program based on a California program investing in primary care for small independent practices, tribal practices, and community health centers. Discusses technical assistance, timing of payments, tracking success, and collaboration to overcome measurement barriers.
Source: Health Affairs Forefront
Mar 10, 2026 - Highlights a pilot program in a rural Missouri community offering a coordinated response to health and social needs for Medicaid patients. The program allows hospitals and other organizations to refer patients to service providers and track whether their needs are getting addressed. Describes how the program was started, the federal waiver that allows the program to run, and the technology used for it. Discusses sustainability challenges common for rural service providers.
Source: The Beacon: Missouri
Mar 9, 2026 - Summarizes comments from a HIMSS26 Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum discussing cybersecurity for rural hospitals. Covers topics including regional collaboration, communicating with facility administration, and cybersecurity workforce.
Source: Healthcare IT News
Mar 9, 2026 - Highlights the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cardiology Access and Resources for Delivery of Integrated Outreach to VETerans Network (CARDIO-VET), a hub-and-spoke model of cardiology care. Describes how the program helped a rural veteran in coordination with the VA Office of Rural Health.
Source: VA Wichita Health Care Stories
Mar 6, 2026 - Highlights the StrongHearts Native Helpline, a helpline addressing domestic and sexual violence in Native American communities. Notes the program recently received new federal funding to continue connecting survivors with service providers. The program will also strengthen work for Alaska Native communities, enhance existing partnerships, and improve its website.
Source: Native News Online
Mar 2, 2026 - Describes progress made and upcoming plans for a grant aiming to train community health workers in Texas to deliver the 4Ms of Age-Friendly Care. This work is part of the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative, an initiative developed through a partnership between the National Rural Health Association and The John A. Hartford Foundation.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Feb 27, 2026 - Highlights the Utah Stroke Trials Network, a National Institutes of Health research network increasing access to stroke treatment research trials for rural and frontier communities in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and Washington.
Source: University of Utah Health News
Feb 13, 2026 - Describes the Cancer Analytics & Maps for Small Areas (CAMSA), a tool offering cancer incidence and mortality rates data at the Iowa county and Zip Code Tabulation Ares (ZCTA) levels. Notes that rural areas often have data gaps in national tools. Discusses collaborations with other states to develop similar tools.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch
Jan 20, 2026 - Discusses the launch of a new regional campus from the University of Minnesota Medical School. The campus is located in a rural region and aims to increase the number of rural students to address rural physician shortages. Highlights a partnership with a regional healthcare system to support the new campus.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jan 20, 2026 - Highlights a college program partnering with a local rural emergency department to hire students as emergency medicine technicians to address workforce shortages. Describes common rural challenges with hiring and retaining EMTs and the benefits of rural hands-on training for the students.
Source: MPR News