Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response
Critical Condition: Cybersecurity in Rural Hospitals with Microsoft Part 2
Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Justin Spelhaug, corporate vice president and global head of Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft Philanthropies, about how rural hospitals can protect themselves from cyber attacks, near-term risks, and building resilience over time. Provides an overview of the Microsoft cybersecurity program for rural hospitals and lessons learned from the program so far.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Justin Spelhaug, corporate vice president and global head of Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft Philanthropies, about how rural hospitals can protect themselves from cyber attacks, near-term risks, and building resilience over time. Provides an overview of the Microsoft cybersecurity program for rural hospitals and lessons learned from the program so far.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Navigating Natural Disasters: Key Strategies for Medicaid Agencies to Support Members
Provides information on the impact of natural disasters on people, communities, and the economy. Discusses how Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can address health needs of their members by strengthening disaster preparedness, working with managed care organizations, and focusing on policy. Includes examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Armelle Casau, Rachel Yard
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Provides information on the impact of natural disasters on people, communities, and the economy. Discusses how Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can address health needs of their members by strengthening disaster preparedness, working with managed care organizations, and focusing on policy. Includes examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Armelle Casau, Rachel Yard
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Cybersecurity Risks in Rural Healthcare Webinar
A recorded webinar that provides information about cybersecurity risks in rural areas and strategies to improve resilience and security. Subtitles available in video.
Additional links: Slides
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Hospital Association
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A recorded webinar that provides information about cybersecurity risks in rural areas and strategies to improve resilience and security. Subtitles available in video.
Additional links: Slides
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Hospital Association
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The State of Rural Healthcare: Research and Outlook for 2025
Presents results of a survey of 75 rural healthcare regarding their financial health and strategic priorities. Identifies the top challenges identified by the surveyed organizations. Discusses how providers are addressing strategic priorities in 2025, including cybersecurity and the adoption of digital and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Requires name, email address, and organization information to download.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wipfli, LLP
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Presents results of a survey of 75 rural healthcare regarding their financial health and strategic priorities. Identifies the top challenges identified by the surveyed organizations. Discusses how providers are addressing strategic priorities in 2025, including cybersecurity and the adoption of digital and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Requires name, email address, and organization information to download.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Wipfli, LLP
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Assessment of a Gas Monitor Distribution Program in Rural Wisconsin
Surveys fire department participants of an agricultural rescue training event to evaluate the effectiveness of a gas monitor distribution program in rural Wisconsin. Discusses manure gas incidents in agricultural settings.
Author(s): Jakob A. Hanschu, Casper G. Bendixsen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 30(3), 558-566
Date: 02/2025
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Surveys fire department participants of an agricultural rescue training event to evaluate the effectiveness of a gas monitor distribution program in rural Wisconsin. Discusses manure gas incidents in agricultural settings.
Author(s): Jakob A. Hanschu, Casper G. Bendixsen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 30(3), 558-566
Date: 02/2025
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Aging and Wildfire Risk to Communities
Reports on the disparate risk of wildfire experienced by older adults including those in rural communities. Discusses access to emergency services and fire departments as well as the increasing age of rural residents over time.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler, Miranda H. Mockrin
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on the disparate risk of wildfire experienced by older adults including those in rural communities. Discusses access to emergency services and fire departments as well as the increasing age of rural residents over time.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler, Miranda H. Mockrin
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bringing Pandemic Science to the Classroom: Building Public Health Capacity at a Rural Kentucky High School
Examines the multidisciplinary Wastewater Assessment for Coronavirus in Kentucky: Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Technology (WACKIEST) unit created for high school students to study the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Discusses wastewater testing, public health surveillance, and public health education.
Author(s): Sahar Alameh, Anna G Hoover, James W Keck, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 141(1), 17-23
Date: 01/2025
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Examines the multidisciplinary Wastewater Assessment for Coronavirus in Kentucky: Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Technology (WACKIEST) unit created for high school students to study the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Discusses wastewater testing, public health surveillance, and public health education.
Author(s): Sahar Alameh, Anna G Hoover, James W Keck, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 141(1), 17-23
Date: 01/2025
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Lessons for Human Services: Perspectives of Program Participants on Extreme Weather and Environmental Hazards
Examines how human services programs mitigate issues caused by environmental hazards and extreme weather for low-income and underresourced communities. Utilizes qualitative data from 41 participants, with a focus on impacts of trash and garbage, flooding, air and water quality, extreme heat, and other environmental conditions. Includes commentary about hazards specific to rural areas.
Author(s): Anne Junod, Pamela Winston, Maretta McDonald, Mikaela Tajo, Rebecca Marx
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines how human services programs mitigate issues caused by environmental hazards and extreme weather for low-income and underresourced communities. Utilizes qualitative data from 41 participants, with a focus on impacts of trash and garbage, flooding, air and water quality, extreme heat, and other environmental conditions. Includes commentary about hazards specific to rural areas.
Author(s): Anne Junod, Pamela Winston, Maretta McDonald, Mikaela Tajo, Rebecca Marx
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources: A Guide for Rural Communities
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Healthcare and Public Health Risk Identification and Site Criticality 2.0 Toolkit (RISC 2.0 Toolkit)
Offers a data-driven all-hazards risk assessment toolkit with self-assessment modules for healthcare and public health organizations, including those in rural areas, to enhance their ability to identify threats and hazards, perform risk management activities, assess vulnerabilities, and improve their security and resilience. Includes a specific cybersecurity module that focuses on the cybersecurity strength of an organization, also known as cyber risk posture, and offers guidance on related policies, controls, and practices.
Additional links: Cybersecurity Module, RISC Toolkit Fact Sheet
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Offers a data-driven all-hazards risk assessment toolkit with self-assessment modules for healthcare and public health organizations, including those in rural areas, to enhance their ability to identify threats and hazards, perform risk management activities, assess vulnerabilities, and improve their security and resilience. Includes a specific cybersecurity module that focuses on the cybersecurity strength of an organization, also known as cyber risk posture, and offers guidance on related policies, controls, and practices.
Additional links: Cybersecurity Module, RISC Toolkit Fact Sheet
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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