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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health occupations

A Model for Internal Medicine Physicians in a Small Rural Hospital
Describes a provider staffing model for rural hospitals that uses internal medicine physicians to provide inpatient care and to consult on outpatient care in Washington state. Describes the hospital setting, staffing needs, and lessons learned.
Author(s): Paul Bunge
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 18(3), 4419
Date: 08/2018
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Building a Community Health Worker Program: The Key to Better Care, Better Outcomes, & Lower Costs
A toolkit offering information and strategies to help hospitals and healthcare systems design and implement a community health worker (CHW) program targeted to the communities they serve. Highlights evidence-based best practices, sustainable financing of CHW activities, engaging stakeholders, and suggests outcome measures. Provides a chapter of case studies on rural, urban, and suburban settings.
Author(s): Beth A. Brooks, Sheila Davis, Loraine Frank-Lightfoot, et al.
Date: 07/2018
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, CommunityHealth Works
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Maine's Physician, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician Assistant Workforce in 2018
Presents a report on the workforce supply of physicians, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce in Maine. Compares data to a 2014 report, as well as data from rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman, Benjamin A. Stubbs, Arati Dahal
Date: 07/2018
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Mapping Our Way to Success: Wisconsin's Physician Workforce, 2018 Healthcare Workforce Report
Profiles physicians in Wisconsin and offers projections for the primary care physician workforce into the year 2035 by analyzing additional data, such as the supply of physicians from medical schools, Graduate Medical Education (GME) training, and recruitment. Discusses the expected physician workforce need in rural communities. Includes statistics on Wisconsin physicians by rural-urban community area (RUCA) categories and specialty and other county-level data. See WCMEW's 2016 report for information on new or expanded family medicine, psychiatry, and general surgery programs.
Additional links: Issue Brief
Date: 07/2018
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce
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Strengthening the Workforce to Improve Pregnancy Outcomes in Rural Areas
Highlights rural workforce initiatives related to maternity and childbirth services and discusses strategies to improve rural pregnancy outcomes. Features a training program at a Critical Access Hospital in Alaska and a rural OB-GYN residency program in Wisconsin.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2018
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Telepsychiatry Program: Children's Hospital and Medical Center
Describes the development, impact, lessons learned, and future goals of a telepsychiatry program designed to provide behavioral healthcare services to children in rural Nebraska.
Date: 07/2018
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Primary Care Workforce Facts and Stats No. 3: The Distribution of the U.S. Primary Care Workforce
Describes the primary care workforce, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Provides statistics on the geographic distribution of the primary care workforce. Compares the primary care workforce distribution with specialty physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Date: 07/2018
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Geographic Variation in the Supply of Selected Behavioral Health Providers
Analyzes the geographic distribution of behavioral healthcare providers across the country. Breaks down data by metropolitan, micropolitan, and non-core counties and by psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6), Supp 3, S199-S207
Date: 06/2018
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State Legislative Approach to Enumerating Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages: Lessons Learned in New Mexico
Describes the model developed in New Mexico (NM) as a result of the Health Care Work Force Data Collection, Analysis and Policy Act, initially enacted in 2011, to address behavioral health workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas, and the increased demand for services due to Medicaid expansion in the state. Highlights the purpose of the legislation, the development of a statewide workforce committee, policies implemented, lessons learned, and offers suggestions for other states considering legislation supporting behavioral health workforce initiatives.
Author(s): Deborah B. Altschul, Caroline A. Bonham, Martha J. Faulkner, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6S3), S220-S229
Date: 06/2018
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Impact of Nurse Practitioner Practice Regulations on Rural Population Health Outcomes
Analyzes data from Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in eight Southeastern states to determine if clinical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries vary by level of practice autonomy that states grant to nurse practitioners (NPs).
Author(s): Judith Ortiz, Richard Hofler, Angeline Bushy, et al.
Citation: Healthcare, 6(2), 65
Date: 06/2018
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