Rural Health
News by Topic: Recruitment and retention of health professionals
Feb 5, 2026 - Describes the experience gained by Iowa medical students in a program aiming to reduce rural physician shortages by exposing students to rural healthcare opportunities.
Source: KCRG
Feb 3, 2026 - Announces bipartisan legislation to elevate the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The change would allow for greater authority in recruiting and retaining IHS workforce.
Source: The Office of Senator Cortez Masto
Jan 29, 2026 - Announces hiring plans for the Indian Health Service (IHS), noting that filling vacancies in rural and remote locations has the highest priority. Includes information on how to apply for current and future positions.
Source: Indian Health Service
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
Jan 19, 2026 - Highlights a rural community campaign to address the caregiving shortage through an intergenerational care center. Discusses the research around intergenerational care as well as how the facility could positively impact retention rates for healthcare workers in the community.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jan 14, 2026 - Describes various rural healthcare-focused investments across Oklahoma. Discusses long-term investment strategies, telehealth, workforce training and retention, cancer care access, and preventive care.
Source: News 9
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses the work of independent pharmacies in rural communities and the challenges that come when one closes. Highlights reasons for closures including workforce recruitment challenges and low reimbursement rates. Discusses recent Colorado legislation that aimed to ease burdens on rural pharmacies in the state.
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Health Science News and Features
Jan 13, 2026 - Discusses reasons for labor and delivery department closures across Pennsylvania including challenges with recruiting and retaining obstetricians and gynecologists and low reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid. Also notes poor health outcomes associated with maternal healthcare deserts. Describes potential solutions including increasing access to and the scope of practice for nurse midwives and certified midwives
Source: The Pennsylvania Independent
Jan 12, 2026 - Highlights volunteer-driven clinics in rural Nevada communities that increase access to medical services and give medical students hands on experience. Discusses rural-specific challenges in providing and accessing healthcare, mobile healthcare services, and retaining students to practice in rural communities.
Source: Nevada Today
Jan 6, 2026 - Describes findings from a recent study evaluating access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in Kentucky. Notes planned policy efforts as a result of study findings. Discusses rural-specific challenges with maintaining access to SANEs including training and retaining workforce.
Source: Kentucky Lantern