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The Rural Monitor
Articles by State: Colorado

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

Recovering from a Cybersecurity Attack and Protecting the Future in Small, Rural Health Organizations

October 4, 2023
Rural hospitals are becoming increasingly vulnerable to attempts to penetrate information systems to create havoc, steal data, or hold information "hostage" for a monetary ransom. Two Critical Access Hospital leaders discuss attacks at their organizations and how they are working to prevent future attacks. An information technology compliance expert also highlights actions organizations can take to better protect themselves from cyber-attacks.

“Hopeful Forecasting”: Farmers Showing Increased Interest in Mental Health Resources

June 14, 2023
A December 2021 survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) suggests that farmers and farmworkers are more aware of mental health resources and less likely to see stigma as a barrier to care, compared to previous surveys. Experts from AgriSafe, AgWell, and AFBF share their own success stories of stigma reduction as well as the challenges that remain in addressing farmers' mental health.

Broadband in Rural America: Faster Speeds for Home and Healthcare

April 28, 2021
Fast, reliable broadband is essential for people to access telehealth and patient portals as well as work and study from home, but rural and tribal areas fall behind urban and suburban areas in terms of broadband deployment and speed. Organizations in Alabama, Colorado, and Kentucky share how broadband affects their work and their patients' care.

Advance Care Planning: New Realities in Times of COVID-19

July 15, 2020
Advance care planning — planning for decision-making in times of medical crisis — has always been intended for all people, all ages, with or without a chronic disease. Clinicians talk about the challenges of these conversations now that COVID-19 has nudged planning from the realm of the theoretical future to current reality.

Enhancing Services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Patients in Rural America

October 9, 2019
Deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind people in rural communities may struggle to access healthcare due to a lack of interpreters as well as providers' misunderstanding of their culture and communication needs. A Michigan clinic hires ASL-fluent staff and provides telemental health, a New Jersey state division provides deaf sensitivity training, and a Colorado program brings interpreters to rural communities.