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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response

Emergency Management Resource Guide
An overview of features and functions of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (FirstNet), which agencies might use before, during, and after an emergency. Covers topics applicable for coordinating response in rural and remote areas or when an emergency operations center has been activated. Includes reference links and suggestions for obtaining additional information.
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: FirstNet Authority
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Mental Health Training: Strategies for Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies
Offers strategies for rural law enforcement departments to increase their mental health competency for the purpose of effective response to mental health crisis calls. Address challenges in both mental healthcare access in rural areas as well as mental health training access for law enforcement.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Council of State Governments, U.S. Department of Justice
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Assessment of Community-Level Vulnerability and Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Study examining access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in relation to social vulnerability to disasters based on zip code tabulation data (ZCTA) for 32,434 counties in the continental U.S. Discusses differences in geographic access to MOUD for rural and urban areas and the potential impacts of disasters on that access, highlighting potential interventions to bolster access to treatment.
Author(s): Paul J. Joudrey, Marynia Kolak, Qinyun Lin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(4), e227028
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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The Provider Relief Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
Provides an overview of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), which was established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to reimburse eligible health care providers for increased expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. Offers answers to frequently asked questions regarding how funds have been allocated and provider reporting requirements. Includes information on the relationship between the PRF and funding appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act for rural providers.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Building Trust in Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR) Science: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief
Summarizes findings from a March 2022 workshop focused on trustworthiness of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR) institutions and researchers. Discusses how to promote trust in public health agencies and establishing communication strategies to address misinformation. Includes cultural issues related to rural and tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Indian Health Service: Relief Funding and Agency Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Describes the COVID-19 relief funding for Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal, and urban Indian organization health facilities and how the funds were used to meet immediate and longstanding system needs. Discusses the initial IHS response to the pandemic and steps IHS took to address challenges that its hospitals faced responding to the pandemic.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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HHS Strategic Plan FY 2022 - 2026
Identifies the strategic goals and objectives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Addresses issues impacting rural and tribal communities, including health disparities, healthcare access, and health workforce. Discusses maternal mortality, emergency preparedness, and other specific concerns.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Do Rural Hospitals Have An Advantage During A Pandemic?
Analysis of the challenges, advantages, and policy landscape affecting rural hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses workforce issues, community relationships, and emergency preparedness.
Author(s): Miriam Krikorian Atkinson, John L. Hick, Sara J. Singer, Nicholas V. Cagliuso, Paul D. Biddinger
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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VA Recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission
Presents Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission to modernize and realign the VA health care system. Recommendations cover investing in the VA outpatient care infrastructure, enhancing care for veterans with complex needs, providing equitable access to inpatient medical and surgical care, and strengthening the VA's ability to execute its education, research, and emergency preparedness missions. Volume I outlines the legislative history; the present and future of VA health care, including the access needs of rural veterans; the methodology used to conduct the market assessments; and a national summary of the recommendations. Volume II details the recommendations and is organized by the 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs).
Additional links: Appendices, Volume I, Volume II
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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U.S.-Mexico Border Program: Emergency Preparedness and Response StoryMap
StoryMap offering data and information related to Goal 4 of the Border 2025 program, which aims to improve joint preparedness for and response to hazardous environmental emergencies. Discusses collaboration between sister cities, environmental justice and climate change issues, and coordinating training and response to support emergency preparedness.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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