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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Scope of practice

Understanding Scope and Competencies: A Contemporary Look at the United States Community Health Worker Field
Reports on the progress of the Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) Project in developing a national consensus regarding community health worker core roles and competencies. The C3 Advisory Committee charged with developing the standards included representation from urban, rural, and tribal communities.
Author(s): E. Lee Rosenthal, Carl H. Rush, Caitlin G. Allen
Date: 04/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Institute for Health Policy, University of Texas School of Public Health
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Variation in Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice by State
Presents a state-by-state breakdown of allowable tasks to be performed by dental hygienists. Data presented in an infographic detailing the scope of practice in each state.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 2016
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Determinants of an Urban Origin Student Choosing Rural Practice: A Scoping Review
An analysis of a comprehensive literature review using Medline and PubMed databases focused on key factors that influence medical students from urban areas in Australia, Canada and the USA to choose careers in rural medicine.
Author(s): Douglas Myhre, Sameer Bajaj, Wesley Jackson
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 15(3), 3483
Date: 09/2015
Type: Document
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Rural Health Care Disparities Created by Medicare Regulations
Recording 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
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Tapping Nurse Practitioners to Meet Rising Demand for Primary Care
Discusses the use of advanced practice nurses, specifically nurse practitioners, to increase access to primary care for those residing in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Reports that nurse practitioners working in primary care are more likely than primary care physicians to work in rural areas. Suggests that the use of nurse practitioners and physician assistants could help reduce the primary care provider shortage in 2020 by two-thirds.
Author(s): Amanda Van Vleet, Julia Paradise
Date: 01/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Role of Physician Assistants in Health Care Delivery
Describes the role of physician assistants (PAs) in the U.S. healthcare system with information related to state regulations, PA education, scope of practice, and their importance in rural healthcare facilities. Also provides policy recommendations to help states attract, retain, and realize the value of PAs within their healthcare system.
Author(s): Amanda Dunker, Esther Krofah, Frederick Isasi
Date: 09/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Advancing Health in Rural America: Maximizing Nursing's Impact
Connects evidence-based nursing solutions in the 2010 report Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health and the healthcare challenges facing rural America. Outlines challenges including access to quality healthcare, cost of care in rural areas, and covers examples of initial progress and supporting key programs.
Author(s): Mary S. Gorski
Date: 06/2011
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Out of Order, Out of Time: The State of the Nation's Health Workforce
Focuses attention on the need for a collaborative, coordinated, national health workforce planning initiative. Chapters 5 and 7 of the full report discuss socioeconomic trends and challenges including students' limited access to health professions education partly due to faculty shortages, and the importance of keeping pace with the increasing diversity of the U.S. population. Also discusses resources such as pipeline initiatives for K-12 students which focus more on rural areas or underrepresented minorities, and offering distance education and online courses particularly for those in rural areas. Includes the 2013 Call to Action, the 2013 Policy Framework, and the full report.
Date: 2008
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The Alliance of Academic Health Centers
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State Licensure Laws and the Mental Health Professions: Implications for the Rural Mental Health Workforce
Examines licensure statutes and administrative rules for social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists in the 40 states that have at least 10% of the population living in rural areas. Covers scope of practice, training and supervision, and reimbursement.
Additional links: Executive Summary, May 2002
Author(s): David Hartley, Erika C. Ziller, David Lambert, Stephenie L. Loux, Donna C. Bird
Date: 10/2002
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Nurse Practitioner State Practice Environment
Interactive map providing an overview of nurse practitioner (NP) licensure for all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. Shows states and territories in which NPs are permitted full, reduced, or restricted practice, and provides definitions of these terms.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: American Association of Nurse Practitioners
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