Topics: Arizona

For more information and resources, see the Arizona state guide.

RESEP Clinics Help Rural Residents Access Care and Compensation After Radiation Exposure

Nuclear weapons testing from 1945 to 1962 and uranium mining from 1943 to 1971 exposed workers and community members living near the mines or testing sites to harmful levels of radiation that can lead to cancer and other illnesses. Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESEP) grants help healthcare organizations provide screenings, referrals for medical treatment, and other services to this population. Two grantees, the Navajo Area RESEP and the Southwestern Utah RESEP, share their stories.

Researchers and rural communities are working together to address rural cancer prevention and control, with federal funding supporting a wide range of projects. From targeting health behaviors, to making cancer screening and vaccination more accessible, to increasing rural participation in clinical trials, efforts to reduce rural cancer burden are underway across the country.

Job preparedness is essential for quality caregiving, professional success, and satisfaction. Three rural registered nurses join a nursing doctoral candidate to share their stories about the path to their profession and their perspective on rural nursing preparedness.

Contact tracing is an important step in preventing further spread of the coronavirus. Alaska’s AHEC program, a center for public health in Washington, and a national public health foundation share their training strategies while an IHS hospital in Arizona discusses its in-person contact tracing initiative.

To address rising ER readmissions, an Arizona healthcare system and network partners adapted an unconventional EMS telehealth service to help rural patients. Coupled with care coordination, mobile telehealth units are saving the healthcare system money while better meeting patients’ healthcare needs.

Cancer has become one of the leading causes of death for American Indian and Alaskan Native populations. In this article, a cancer researcher, foundation director, and medical professional share their models that engage these populations in cancer research, prevention, and treatment.

Peer support specialists are trained laypeople in recovery with a mental health condition or substance use disorder who act as mentors and coordinators for clients with similar behavioral health issues. PSSs in rural Arizona, Michigan, and North Dakota share the challenges and successes they see in their communities.

The Southwest, with its large geographic area of deserts and mountains, faces unique challenges when it comes to telehealth. The Southwest Telehealth Resource Center assists the region’s healthcare providers through training programs, technical assistance, webinars, and blogs.

Oral health training programs are equipping Community Health Workers on Navajo Nation, Texas colonias, and Maryland’s Appalachian communities to improve access to dental care and teach people how to take care of their teeth.

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 Rural Monitor

Articles and resources on key rural health issues, from the Rural Health Information Hub

Topics: Arizona

RESEP Clinics Help Rural Residents Access Care and Compensation After Radiation Exposure

Federal Agencies’ Investment in Rural Cancer Control Fosters Partnerships between Researchers and Rural Communities

Nursing Preparedness: Words from Researchers and Rural Nurses

Contact Tracing: Training New Workers and Connecting with Rural Residents

Mobile Telehealth Units and Care Coordinators Improve Emergency Care Services for Rural Arizona Patients

Reducing Cancer Among Native Populations: Models for Research, Prevention, and Treatment

Peer Support Specialists Care for and Connect Rural Behavioral Health Clients

Southwest Telehealth Resource Center Helps Rural Providers Connect

Community Health Workers Get Trained to Reduce Oral Health Disparities

Freestanding Emergency Departments: An Alternative Model for Rural Communities