Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

The Rural Monitor
Articles by Author: Jenn Lukens

Feasting on Rural America: The Spread of Tick-Borne Diseases

May 17, 2017
Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses have become the most prolific zoonotic diseases in our nation. Because of their proximity to tick environments, rural areas are more susceptible. In this article, we hear from a Lyme disease patient, a scientist, psychiatrist, nonprofit leader, and a medical doctor about the spread and what's being done about it.

Freestanding Emergency Departments: An Alternative Model for Rural Communities

November 30, 2016
First conceptualized in the 1970s, but not widely adopted in rural communities, freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) have been getting another look as a sustainable rural option. This article discusses hospital-based versus independent FSEDs, the model's financial viability, and highlights two FSEDs meeting their communities' healthcare needs in Arizona and Illinois.

The Reverend's Revolution: A Kid-First Approach to Community Health

June 29, 2016
By teaching youth how to better their health and economic situation, Reverend Richard Joyner has inspired the Conetoe community to make lasting changes. Read more about how the Conetoe Family Life Center's garden camp and partnerships with local hospitals have revolutionized the health of northeast North Carolina.

Illinois Network Puts Hospitals' Needs First

May 31, 2016
Since its start, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network has designed services to meet the needs of rural hospitals across the state. Through leveraging FORHP funds and their partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health, ICAHN has helped 54 hospitals transition from competition to collaboration.