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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce supply and demand

The WWAMI Targeted Rural Underserved Track (TRUST) Program: An Innovative Response to Rural Physician Workforce Shortages
Discusses a four-year medical education curriculum through the University of Washington School of Medicine called the Targeted Rural Underserved Track (TRUST) where students are required to participate in a four-year clinical longitudinal continuity experience. The curriculum links students to a rural community identified as their TRUST continuity community or TCC with the objective to engage students in learning how a healthcare team functions in a rural community and to address the physician workforce needs in rural Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI region).
Author(s): Thomas Greer, Amanda Kost, David V. Evans, et al.
Citation: Academic Medicine, 91(1), 65-69
Date: 01/2016
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Rhode Island: Key Determinants of Rural Health
An assessment and review of the health needs, behaviors, and status of rural populations in Rhode Island. Identifies places of need and recognizes the challenges prevalent in rural areas. Can be used as a tool to develop strategies and allocate resources targeted to underserved areas of the state.
Author(s): Katelyn Edel
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: Rhode Island Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
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Utah's Physical Therapist Workforce, 2016
Describes the composition of Utah's physical therapy workforce in 2016. Includes statistics on demographics, practice characteristics, rural and urban distribution, and the supply and demand of physical therapists in Utah. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen the rural workforce.
Author(s): Jaron Halford
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: Utah Health Workforce Information Center
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Alaska Health Care Workforce Profile: Identifying Occupations That Are Hardest to Fill
Highlights the healthcare occupations identified by rural and urban Alaska employers as the most difficult to fill. Intended to inform decisions made by workforce development communities on education and training. Presents healthcare workforce and demographic data compiled from surveys, and includes a comprehensive review of retention data.
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organizations: Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
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Recruitment and Retention of Mental Health Care Providers in Rural Nebraska: Perceptions of Providers and Administrators
Results from focus groups held in 4 rural regions of Nebraska during 2012 and 2013 to identify possible solutions to the mental health provider shortage in rural and frontier areas.
Author(s): Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, Lynda Madison, Katherine L. Watkins, Anh T. Nguyen, Li-Wu Chen
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 15(4), 3392
Date: 11/2015
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The Rural Obstetric Workforce in US Hospitals: Challenges and Opportunities
Details a study of the obstetric workforce and access to obstetric services in rural areas. Analyzes the results of a survey of 306 rural hospitals across the U.S. from November 2013 - March 2014. Discusses possible policy and training modifications for rural hospitals based on the study's conclusions.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Michelle M. Casey, Peiyin Hung, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(4), 365-372
Date: 10/2015
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Assessing Rural-Urban Nurse Practitioner Supply and Distribution in 12 States Using Available Data Sources
A policy brief comparing the distribution of nurse practitioners (NPs) in rural and urban areas through the analysis of license records and the National Provider Identifier (NPI) data from 12 states.
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman,Gina Keppel, Mark P. Doescher, et al.
Date: 08/2015
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Health Care Disparities Created by Medicare Regulations
Transcript of a July 28, 2015, U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health hearing concerning rural healthcare disparities created by Medicare regulations. Features testimony from the Arizona Center for Rural Health and leaders from two Critical Access Hospitals and one rural hospital. Covers physician shortages; graduate medical education; the impact of regulatory changes such as the 96-hour rule, the two-midnight rule, and physician supervision requirements; and more.
Additional links: Carrie Saia, Holton Community Hospital - Testimony, Daniel Derksen, Arizona Center for Rural Health - Testimony, Shannon Sorensen, Brown County Hospital - Testimony, Tim Joslin, Community Regional Medical Centers - Testimony
Date: 07/2015
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Provider Workforce Assessment in a Rural Hepatitis C Epidemic: Implications for Scale-Up of Antiviral Therapy
Analyzes the quantity and distribution of healthcare providers who actively prescribed direct acting antiviral drugs for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Wisconsin. Discusses strategies to increase the number of healthcare providers in rural areas, as well as the education, training, and support provided to rural physicians. Figure 1 illustrates the prevalence of HCV and the distribution of HCV treatment prescribers.
Author(s): Ryan P. Westergaard, Lauren J. Stockman, Heather A. Hyland, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 6(3), 215-217
Date: 07/2015
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Dentist Supply, Dental Care Utilization, and Oral Health Among Rural and Urban U.S. Residents
Investigates the differences between rural and urban adults regarding their utilization of dental care services. Discusses the influence of dentist supply and oral health outcomes in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mark P. Doescher, Gina A. Keppel
Date: 06/2015
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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