https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/topics/health-workforce-supply-and-demand Rural Health & Human Services News by Topic: Health workforce supply and demand - Rural Health Information Hub en Copyright 2026 Rural Health Information Hub https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/what-are-the-top-threats-rural-hospitals-face-for-survival- Highlights common rural hospital healthcare delivery challenges as identified by Wisconsin hospital CEOs. Discusses nursing workforce shortages, employee burnout, reimbursement rates, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, home health, Medicare Advantage, and maintaining inpatient care access. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38707 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.wsiu.org/health/2026-06-26/rural-hospitals-look-for-innovation-to-address-provider-shortages Interview with Damon Harbison, President of Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and Alexis Hackstadt, a registered nurse who recently joined the Good Samaritan staff. They discuss provider shortages in the rural setting and initiatives to attract and retain staff. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38702 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://augustafreepress.com/news/mary-baldwin-university-launching-rural-mental-healthcare-program/ A Virginia university is offering a new psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program to address a growing need for rural mental healthcare amid healthcare workforce shortages. The program will support placements in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38700 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2026/06/addressing-rural-nursing-crisis Offers an interview with a South Dakota State University assistant professor in the College of Nursing about rural healthcare challenges and the work the university is doing to address nursing workforce shortages in both short-term acute care and long-term care settings in rural communities. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38685 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-st-lukes-bringing-sexual-assault-forensic-care-closer-home-rural-idaho Discusses challenges with offering trauma-informed sexual assault care in rural Idaho. Describes how workforce shortages contribute to access barriers and how a telehealth hub-and-spoke model overcomes some of those barriers. Offers lessons learned following implementation of the model. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38678 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://penncapital-star.com/health-care/primary-care-medics-lessons-from-the-u-s-military-closing-healthcare-gaps-in-rural-pennsylvania/ Describes the Primary Care Medic (PC-Medic) initiative in Pennsylvania's Rural Health Transformation Program plan. PC-Medics would increase healthcare access in rural areas with workforce shortages. Discusses how medics would support existing primary care professionals as well as how to recruit veterans and rural residents to the position. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38675 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2026/06/pennsylvania-dentist-meadville-university-of-pittsburgh-crawford-mckean-rural-issues/ Discusses dental workforce shortages across Pennsylvania and highlights the impact on access when a provider retires. Describes initiatives at 2 Pennsylvania universities to train dental students in regional centers and clinics as a strategy to increase the rural dental workforce. Notes these initiatives are incorporated into the state's Rural Health Transformation Program plan. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38663 Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/06/15/target-7-radford-university-trying-new-approach-help-rural-healthcare-crisis/ Describes the work of a university in rural Virginia to address healthcare access through mobile clinics and increasing the size of the nursing workforce. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38658 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://news.uams.edu/2026/06/15/new-rural-health-hub-connects-arkansans-to-healthcare-resources-opportunities/ Describes a new website highlighting the services offered by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences related to rural healthcare, education, and social safety net programs. Discusses how those programs increase access to healthcare, improve maternal and infant health, support the healthcare workforce, and make use of community health workers. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38657 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.umt.edu/news/2026/06/061126papr.php The University of Montana's new physician associate program will begin this fall. The program aims to address workforce shortages across the state, particularly for rural areas. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38646 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.unc.edu/posts/2026/06/10/rural-interprofessional-longitudinal-scholars-serve-rural-communities/ Describes a collaborative program between 3 University of North Carolina institutions allowing cohorts of students from different healthcare disciplines to learn about and address rural health issues. Notes the program's impact on increasing the rural healthcare workforce. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38638 Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/25-million-gift-will-bolster-rural-indigenous-healthcare/ A new philanthropic donation to the University of Washington School of Medicine Medical Student Education Program will create new scholarships and student support programs to increase primary care physicians in rural and tribal Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38615 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/06/will-doctors-trade-5-years-in-rural-hawaii-for-free-med-school/ A new program in Hawaii offers free medical school in exchange for practicing in a rural Hawaiian community for 5 years. Describes the physician shortages in Hawaii and profiles some of the students already participating in the program, which is funded through the state's Rural Health Transformation Program. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38609 Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2026/05/29/bassett-healthcare-network-opens-new-clinic-and-expands-rural-healthcare-options Describes the importance of rural healthcare access for an aging population and healthcare workforce shortages in New York. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38603 Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.witn.com/2026/05/28/ecu-health-expands-graduate-program-rural-access/ East Carolina University has added a rural residency track for their internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics graduate medical education programs. The goal is to increase access to healthcare in rural North Carolina communities. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38594 Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://dailyyonder.com/in-texas-rural-nursing-homes-outperform-urban-facilities-on-some-key-metrics/2026/05/27/ Analyzes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) nursing home data to compare rural and urban staffing and health inspection ratings in Texas. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38586 Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://wire.auburn.edu/content/pharmacy/2026/05/content-item.php Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy was awarded a $20,000 National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation scholarship. The award will support the school's Rural RxGuidance program, designed to inspire rural youth to consider pharmacy careers, while addressing workforce shortages in medically underserved areas. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38574 Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/addressing-workforce-challenges-through-the-rural-health-transformation-program/ The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program is providing all states with funding over the next 5 years, to address rural health challenges. More than 60% of Health Professional Shortage Areas are in rural areas, and each state proposes to use at least some of the funding for healthcare workforce issues. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38564 Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2026/05/dartmouth-convenes-second-annual-forum-rural-health The Dartmouth Rural Health Symposium convened on May 13, with several hundred researchers, clinicians, policymakers, educators, and community members. Discussion covered systemic and structural barriers that contribute to rural health disparities, and the impact various factors can have on the health and wellness of people in rural communities. Presenters noted that improving rural health outcomes requires strategic collaboration and medical innovation. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38566 Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500