Rural Health
News by Topic: Service delivery models
Nov 4, 2024 - Discusses telehealth and remote monitoring tool solutions for improving rural healthcare access. Highlights the role the COVID-19 pandemic played in increasing telehealth adoption and access barriers that remain in spite of wider telehealth adoption. Discusses workforce shortages, broadband challenges, and reimbursement for telehealth.
Source: TechTarget
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Jurisdictional Survey Instrument for the Title V MCH Block Grant Program, OMB No. 0906-0042—Revision." The MCH Jurisdictional Survey is designed to produce data on the physical and emotional health of mothers and children under 18 years of age in the following eight jurisdictions—American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, Puerto Rico, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Proposed revisions include further updates to survey questions to align with new Federal data standards, including updated guidance from OMB on collecting information on race and ethnicity. Comments are due by December 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 29, 2024 - Highlights discussions at the Sanford Health event "Summit on the Future of Rural Health Care" regarding healthcare accessibility and workforce shortages. Discusses reimbursement issues and technology advances that may help close some accessibility gaps.
Source: KELO
Oct 23, 2024 - Discusses a telepsychology program at the University of Iowa that aims to work with rural Iowans and train psychologists. Discusses the benefits of telehealth in increasing access to care in workforce shortage areas, the culture of rural, and overcoming stigma.
Source: The Daily Iowan
Oct 14, 2024 - Highlights two mobile clinic programs offering a variety of women's health services, including birth control, to rural communities in Texas and Arkansas. Notes that mobile clinics can help improve access to women's health services in rural areas, but are often expensive to operate. Describes funding strategies, community partnerships, legal considerations, and the utilization of community health workers for mobile clinic programs.
Source: KFF Health News
Oct 9, 2024 - Highlights a Texas initiative expanding broadband access in rural areas. Notes the role of broadband in for healthcare, workforce, and education needs. Discusses funding and infrastructure challenges.
Source: KERA News
Oct 9, 2024 - Highlights a new program offering mental health services to rural residents and farmers in Louisiana through teletherapy. The program addresses broadband issues by offering a mobile unit with internet access and devices.
Source: BRProud
VA: Agency Information Collection Activity: Survey of Veteran Enrollees' Health and Use of Health Care
Federal Register
Oct 9, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) seeking comments on the revision of an information collection titled "Survey of Veteran Enrollees' Health and Use of Health Care." Information collected is used to gain insights into factors influencing health care choices, enrollees' perceived health status and need for assistance, available insurance, self-reported utilization of VA services versus other health care services, barriers to seeking care, ability and comfort level with accessing virtual care, and more. Comments are due by December 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 7, 2024 - Highlights the work of the South Texas VA in offering telehealth for palliative and Long COVID care and their recent designation as a Nationally Designated Telehealth Hub. Discusses the challenges in access to care for veterans in rural areas.
Source: VA News
Oct 4, 2024 - Explores factors contributing to low patient volumes at field hospitals erected in rural North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Discusses how damaged power and communications systems may have hindered efforts to spread the word about the temporary services, and identifies collaboration with local AM radio stations as a potential workaround. Notes ongoing efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a range of local and national partners to locate missing persons and prepare for a potential surge in patient volumes.
Source: NBC News