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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care

Project ECHO: A Model for Complex, Chronic Care in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States
Describes Project ECHO, a telehealth program, involving weekly video conferences between rural providers and their colleagues at academic medical centers to discuss patient cases involving a variety of subjects, such as Hepatitis C, chronic pain, integrated addictions, psychiatry, and HIV/AIDS to receive management advice, and access to best practices. Figure 2 shows a map of participating sites and Table 1 lists the numbers of clinics, clinicians, and patients presented.
Author(s): John D. Scott, Kent T. Unruh, Mary C. Catlin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 18(8), 481-484
Date: 2012
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Outcomes of Hepatitis C Treatment by Primary Care Providers
Examines the effectiveness of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model to improve access to specialty care for complex health conditions such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) by training and supporting primary care clinicians who work with underserved populations in rural areas and prisons in New Mexico.
Author(s): Sanjeev Arora, Karla Thornton, Glen Murata, Paulina Deming, et al.
Citation: New England Journal of Medicine, 364, 2199-2207
Date: 06/2011
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What Happens After an Elevated PSA Test: The Experience of 13,591 Veterans
Details a study on the time between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and a biopsy-confirmed cancer diagnosis in veterans. Compares rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Steven B. Zeliadt, Richard M. Hoffman, Ruth Etzioni, Van Anh T. Ginger, Daniel W. Lin
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 25(11), 1205-1210
Date: 11/2010
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An Analysis of the Labor Markets for Anesthesiology
Examines the supply and demand of anesthesiologists (ANs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Includes information on demographics, income, differences in rural areas, demand by state, and more. Compares employment of CRNAs and ANs by rural and urban facilities. Analyzes earnings and hours worked for CRNAs in rural versus urban areas.
Author(s): Lindsay Daugherty, Raquel Fonseca, Krishna B. Kumar, Pierre-Carl Michaud
Date: 2010
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Physician Workforce: Supply Increased in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas but Geographic Disparities Persisted
Describes the change in supply of physicians from 1991 to 2001. Includes data nationally and by state on physicians in nonmetropolitan areas and on the number of specialists versus generalists. Includes a list of Health Resources and Services Administration programs that address the supply and distribution of health professionals, with 1991 and 2001 expenditures for each program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Dashboard: Arkansas Physician Specialties
Dashboard providing data on the geographic distribution of Arkansas physicians by specialty. Includes rural-urban comparisons and county-level data.
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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General Neurology ECHO
Provides virtual monthly collaborative sessions for healthcare providers on the recognition, referral, and management of neurological conditions, featuring a variety of neurology experts. Includes discussion of best practices, case-based learning, and real-time consultation. Registration is required.
Sponsoring organizations: National MS Society, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Center for Telehealth and Emerging Technologies
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Heartland Telehealth ECHO Series
A Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) series focused on providing access to specialty care expertise by connecting healthcare providers to specialist teams via videoconferencing. Covers a wide array of topics such as clinician burnout, artificial intelligence (AI), effective billing strategies, and more.
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
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Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program Evaluation: Academic Years 2018-2023
Summarizes results of a retrospective evaluation of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program for academic years (AYs) 2018-2023. Features statistics with breakdowns by specialty and by disadvantaged or rural residents, and a summary of accomplishments for those who received THCGME support during AY 2022-2023.
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program: Stroke Transfer Map
Provides interactive maps showing transfer patterns of stroke patients between community hospitals and tertiary hospitals in Wisconsin in order to improve hospital and EMS access and identify gaps in care. Provides data on driving times and distances.
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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