Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Broadband Access Challenges
Fact sheet highlighting barriers to broadband access for rural and underserved communities, addressing infrastructure and affordability issues. Describes policy efforts to increase access through investments to expand broadband adoption.
Additional links: Exploring Digital Equity Fact Sheets
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Fact sheet highlighting barriers to broadband access for rural and underserved communities, addressing infrastructure and affordability issues. Describes policy efforts to increase access through investments to expand broadband adoption.
Additional links: Exploring Digital Equity Fact Sheets
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
Offers comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission's proposed rule for Promoting Telehealth in America. Discusses rural classifications for healthcare providers, defining rural areas for program participation, and an alternative method to determine degrees of rurality.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission's proposed rule for Promoting Telehealth in America. Discusses rural classifications for healthcare providers, defining rural areas for program participation, and an alternative method to determine degrees of rurality.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook: A Roadmap for Delivering Opportunity and Investments in Rural America
Information from the Biden Administration developed to help rural communities understand the infrastructure funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources. Identifies programs and sources of funding set aside for rural communities. Also explains key flexibilities and other benefits available to rural communities under the law.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: The White House (Biden Administration)
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Information from the Biden Administration developed to help rural communities understand the infrastructure funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources. Identifies programs and sources of funding set aside for rural communities. Also explains key flexibilities and other benefits available to rural communities under the law.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: The White House (Biden Administration)
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Healthcare Accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Descriptive Study of Rural Health Care Systems
Reports on survey results from 18 hospitals associated with rural healthcare systems regarding accessibility tools for deaf or hard of hearing patients. Presents information on tools for communication, perspectives on available tools, and types of available education for healthcare workers caring for deaf and hard of hearing patients.
Author(s): Amanda Reinhart
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
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Reports on survey results from 18 hospitals associated with rural healthcare systems regarding accessibility tools for deaf or hard of hearing patients. Presents information on tools for communication, perspectives on available tools, and types of available education for healthcare workers caring for deaf and hard of hearing patients.
Author(s): Amanda Reinhart
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
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USDA Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2022-2026
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strategic plan for fiscal years 2022-2026, setting strategic goals related to environmental health, access to services, conservation, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and more. Discusses investment and programs for rural and tribal communities throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strategic plan for fiscal years 2022-2026, setting strategic goals related to environmental health, access to services, conservation, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and more. Discusses investment and programs for rural and tribal communities throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Digital Quality Measurement Strategic Roadmap
Discusses how the interoperability of healthcare data from electronic health records can improve Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality measurement systems. Outlines actions in four domains - improving data quality, advancing technology, optimizing data aggregation, and enabling alignment of measures - to advance digital quality measurement.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Discusses how the interoperability of healthcare data from electronic health records can improve Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality measurement systems. Outlines actions in four domains - improving data quality, advancing technology, optimizing data aggregation, and enabling alignment of measures - to advance digital quality measurement.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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"Hard to Say Goodbye Over iPad": Experiences of Palliative Care Providers and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Communities of Indiana, United States
Explores healthcare professionals' perspectives about the challenges and barriers to providing palliative care in rural Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents findings from interviews with 15 providers on restricted visitation, communication barriers, provider distress, and hospice services and referrals.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Yun Cai, Yitong Wang
Citation: Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 24(3), E94-E100
Date: 03/2022
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Explores healthcare professionals' perspectives about the challenges and barriers to providing palliative care in rural Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents findings from interviews with 15 providers on restricted visitation, communication barriers, provider distress, and hospice services and referrals.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Yun Cai, Yitong Wang
Citation: Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 24(3), E94-E100
Date: 03/2022
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Washington Rural Health Clinic Dental Services Toolkit: A Guide to Implementing Dental Services in Washington's Rural Health Clinics
Resource guide to assist Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Washington implement dental services alongside primary care. Covers funding, facility, health information technology, and other considerations related to implementing dental care.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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Resource guide to assist Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Washington implement dental services alongside primary care. Covers funding, facility, health information technology, and other considerations related to implementing dental care.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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Indian Health Service: Relief Funding and Agency Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Describes the COVID-19 relief funding for Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal, and urban Indian organization health facilities and how the funds were used to meet immediate and longstanding system needs. Discusses the initial IHS response to the pandemic and steps IHS took to address challenges that its hospitals faced responding to the pandemic.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes the COVID-19 relief funding for Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal, and urban Indian organization health facilities and how the funds were used to meet immediate and longstanding system needs. Discusses the initial IHS response to the pandemic and steps IHS took to address challenges that its hospitals faced responding to the pandemic.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Rising: Economic Development Strategies for America's Heartland
Discusses rural economic development strategies and categorizes rural communities based on proximity to urban areas, tourism, and economic drivers. Offers examples of economic development in different types of rural communities and highlights elements of thriving rural communities, including workforce, access to broadband and healthcare, and community partnerships.
Author(s): Mike Kerlin, Neil O'Farrell, Rachel Riley, Rachel Schaff
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: McKinsey and Company
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Discusses rural economic development strategies and categorizes rural communities based on proximity to urban areas, tourism, and economic drivers. Offers examples of economic development in different types of rural communities and highlights elements of thriving rural communities, including workforce, access to broadband and healthcare, and community partnerships.
Author(s): Mike Kerlin, Neil O'Farrell, Rachel Riley, Rachel Schaff
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: McKinsey and Company
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