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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services

Cybersecurity Toolkit for Rural Hospitals and Clinics
Describes 4 steps to help rural clinics and hospitals develop and maintain cybersecurity programs: awareness, assessment, implementation and remediation, and education. Includes a list of resources, checklists, and tools appropriate for all users.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Low Burden Strategies Are Needed to Reduce Smoking in Rural Healthcare Settings: A Lesson from Cancer Clinics
Details a study on the effectiveness of an electronic health record-based smoking cessation module in providing cessation services to rural cancer patients. Presents data by patient characteristics, services accessed, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Alex T. Ramsey, Timothy B. Baker, Giang Pham, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1728
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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2020 NACo Legislative Conference: Rural Grants 101: How County Officials Can Tap Into USDA Programs
Audio recording of National Association of Counties (NACo) panel discussion presented on March 2, 2020 in Washington, DC, describing ways in which counties can access USDA funding programs. Topics include rural electric cooperatives, rural telecommunications, and rural water and wastewater systems. Transcript available by clicking the More tab.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Trends in Electronic Health Record Use Among Residential Care Communities: United States, 2012, 2014, and 2016
Examines electronic health record (EHR) use trends and health information exchange (HIE) capability among residential care communities. Includes data by metropolitan statistical area (MSA) status, comparing MSA and non-MSA areas.
Author(s): Christine Caffrey, Christopher Cairns, Vincent Rome
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Digital Prosperity: How Broadband Can Deliver Health and Equity to All Communities
Examines the role broadband plays in impacting health and equity in rural and urban areas, and identifies policy reforms to reduce these barriers. Outlines how government and marketplaces influence access to broadband, and offers case studies demonstrating effective methods to develop more equitable outcomes.
Author(s): Adie Tomer, Lara Fishbane, Angela Siefer, Bill Callahan
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Brookings Institution
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Val Verde Regional Medical Center Implements SMART ER
Describes Val Verde Regional Medical Center's (VVRMC) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project focused on care transitions and healthcare quality. VVRMC is a 47-bed hospital in Del Rio, Texas. Discusses how VVRMC collected data and implemented protocols to improve patient satisfaction.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Healthcare from Anywhere: Telehealth Use and Perceptions in Rural Michigan
Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Understanding the True State of Connectivity in America
Provides an overview of the TestIT mobile app, developed to study cellular and broadband internet services, and the data collected from app users. Examines download speeds by county compared to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards. Discusses challenges rural and underserved communities with a limited broadband infrastructure face, including economic development, education and workforce development, and access to health and human services.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Farm Credit, Land O'Lakes, National Association of Counties, National Association of Development Organizations, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation
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Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs
Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Rural Health Predictions: Q&A with Alan Morgan
An interview with National Rural Health Association (NRHA) CEO Alan Morgan. Focuses on NRHA's work on rural health issues and shares rural health predictions for 2020.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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