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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Recruitment and retention of health professionals

Responding to One Rural Community's Primary Care Needs: Investing in Workforce and Broad Community Stakeholder Engagement
Commentary describing a model in which an academic health system in Rockingham County, North Carolina made targeted primary care investments to address rural health disparities while working to ensure sustainability within the health workforce. Examines challenges to improving rural health outcomes and offers suggestions for health systems seeking to replicate the Rockingham model.
Author(s): Sherry Hay, Emily M. Hawes, Alyssa Zamierowski, Stokes Ann Hunt, Cristen P. Page
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 83(6), 435-439
Date: 11/2022
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CMS Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities
Report outlines the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan for improving health equity and health outcomes across the U.S. for rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Details a 6 priority framework emphasizing the application of a community-informed geographic lens; the collection and use of standardized data; support for healthcare professionals; the optimization of medical and communication technology; the expansion of access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits, and services and supports; and innovation and value-based care. Highlights examples of activities CMS is undertaking in support of each priority and recent CMS efforts that align with each priority.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Behavioral Health: Available Workforce Information and Federal Actions to Help Recruit and Retain Providers
Examines the available information on the behavioral health workforce, including federal data on the number of providers nationwide and the projection of the supply and demand for behavioral health providers in 2030. Identifies key barriers to recruiting and retaining behavioral health providers, as well as actions federal agencies have taken to support recruiting and retaining these providers. Outlines federal loan repayment, scholarship, and training programs designed to address workforce challenges in rural and other underserved areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Maternal Health: Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in Rural Areas
Explores the availability of hospital-based obstetric services in rural areas. Summarizes stakeholder perspectives on the factors affecting the availability of these services and on the efforts federal agencies, states, and others could take to increase the access to obstetric care. Highlights six programs identified by researchers and provider associations as effective at increasing obstetric care in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Health Workforce Implications for the Rural Emergency Hospital Model
Describes workforce challenges hospitals converting to Rural Emergency Hospital status may experience. Discusses flexible staffing models, utilization of behavioral health providers, colocation of health and human services providers and team-based care, and recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Jacob Rains
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 10/2022
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Obstetricians, Gynecologists, and Maternal Health in Rural America, with Anne Banfield
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dr. Anne Banfield, physician administrative and clinical director at Women's Health at Leonardtown in Maryland, and member of the foundation board of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Discusses the rural OBGYN workforce and the challenges of providing maternal care in rural areas.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Integration of Rural Nursing in the Curriculum: A Strategy to Increase Nursing Education's Contribution to Population Health
Webinar on integrating rural nursing concepts into a Texas nursing education program. Includes information on the nurse workforce distribution across Texas, healthcare challenges in rural areas, training nursing students in rural areas, telehealth, "grow your own" strategies, and more. See video description for transcript.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Texas at Arlington Center for Rural Health and Nursing
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Survey of Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Agencies
Results of a December 2021 survey of 389 directors of urban, rural, and mixed Pennsylvania emergency medical services agencies. Features statistics on topics including staffing, finances, changes in providers, recruitment and retention, and strategic planning, with breakdowns by rural and urban/mixed classifications.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Planting TREES in Rural Places: Training and Rural Health Professions Education that is Community Engaged and Sustainable
Outlines a process for academic-community engagement and decision-making for residency education. Details benefits to hospitals and local communities, and contains tools and other resources to promote exploration and consideration of the perspectives of many people and interested parties.
Author(s): Randall Longenecker, David Schmitz
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly the RTT Collaborative)
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Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration in Rural Health Facilities: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of the prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorders in rural areas. Discusses the role of rural primary care providers in treating these conditions. Outlines federal programs and resources to support behavioral health and primary care integration. Offers policy recommendations related to access to care; workforce recruitment and retention; telehealth, technology, and broadband; and reimbursement and sustainable revenue.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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