The Rural Monitor Articles by Author: Kay Miller Temple
About Kay Miller Temple
With a perspective gained from many years as a physician practicing in rural and urban locations, Dr. Kay Miller Temple writes on a variety of rural health topics and programs for RHIhub's Rural Monitor and Models and Innovations. She has a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Full Biography
March 21, 2018
An important aspect of the opioid crisis is opioid use disorder. This in-depth story focuses on the science behind the disorder and the use of an evidence-based treatment: MAT, or medication-assisted treatment.
March 21, 2018
MAT, or medication-assisted treatment, is understood as a whole-patient treatment for opioid use disorder, considered a chronic disease. Four MAT medications work differently and help each patient's unique needs.
March 21, 2018
Understanding the opioid problem begins with understanding the science behind pain and how opioids relieve pain. It's also important to understand individuals who might be more at risk of developing opioid use disorder.
March 7, 2018
How do you attract dental students into practice in rural and underserved areas? With 70% of RIDE graduates practicing in those targeted areas, University of Washington School of Dentistry's RIDE faculty, a preceptor, graduate, and current student share how it's done and why it works.
January 24, 2018
Adam Willmann, CEO of a 25-bed CAH in Texas, talks about the importance of bringing "change" as an innovation to the hospital of his birth.
November 29, 2017
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2017 MMWR Rural Series has featured several reports highlighting rural unintentional injuries as one of the top 5 leading causes of death. What are these "unintentional injuries"? How often are rural residents killed by them? Here's a look at the three leading causes of rural unintentional injuries.
October 4, 2017
What's in the air in the rural workplace? From grain dust to rock dust to hospital cleaning chemicals, all these particles have potential to cause chronic lung diseases. But, there are keys to prevention.
August 9, 2017
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is number 3 on the cause of death list. In rural America, it's the sole major chronic disease with increasing death rates. In May 2017, the COPD National Action Plan, a "blueprint for a multi-faceted, unified fight against the disease" was released. Rural stakeholders share perspectives of just how rural Americans with COPD might benefit from the plan's rural touchpoints.
July 12, 2017
Colorectal cancer stands out as a cancer with increased incidence and mortality rates in rural areas – rates that are likely influenced by lack of screening. Using different approaches, two rural healthcare organizations in Idaho and Kentucky show how they are saving lives by improving colorectal cancer screening rates in their communities.
May 31, 2017
Public agencies and private non-profit groups have mutual interests in improving the health of rural Americans. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and philanthropy organizations worked together to create a unique funding opportunity, the Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Program. Two health care organizations and their philanthropy partners share how coordinated efforts benefit patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.