Topics: Minnesota

For more information and resources, see RHIhub’s Minnesota state guide.

Doulas Provide Support for Maternal and Infant Health in Rural Communities

Three programs across rural America demonstrate how doulas improve birth outcomes by providing prenatal, labor, and postpartum support. A New Mexico program reaches American Indian, Hispanic, and other populations who lack nearby labor/delivery units; a Minnesota program works with moms experiencing incarceration; and a North Dakota program is training postpartum doulas who will care for families impacted by opioid use disorder and other substance use.

Essentia Health created the Remote Patient Monitoring program to allow some patients to recover at home while still having access to medical attention. Program launch was accelerated to treat COVID-19 patients, but Essentia plans to continue the program after the pandemic to treat other chronic diseases.

To address the issue of food insecurity in the rural Minnesota communities it serves, Lakewood Health System created Lakewood Engage, a community-based program with multiple initiatives including a “Food Farmacy,” home delivery, and a farmers market.

Referred to as a form of “modern-day slavery,” human trafficking occurs in every state and is not limited by the size of a community. Health services are one of the most common points of access to a lifeline for those actively being trafficked, giving healthcare professionals an advantage to help victims escape. A rural hospital CEO, a SORH director, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, and a Safe Harbor Regional Navigator share how they combat human trafficking through training and raising awareness.

National research has revealed it and rural research suggests it: over 40% of today’s physicians are burned out. This in-depth story reviews information about burnout in healthcare professions and for physicians in particular. Along with reviewing causes and impact, a medical school wellness-advocate, a researcher, and a large healthcare organization with a rural footprint shared interventions and solutions.

With national standards now available for voluntary accreditation, rural public health departments need to determine the feasibility of that activity for their organization. The Public Health Accreditation Board President and CEO joins researchers and experts to share information about accreditation and how rural health departments can achieve that designation.

Governance, organizational size, and other factors may impact rural local health departments’ ability to take on voluntary accreditation. In addition to a brief review of these issues, accreditation officials, professional societies, and researchers share how they are working together to better understand these challenges in order to foster equity for all public health departments desiring accreditation.

As more healthcare delivery efforts include social risk assessments, the impact of the social determinants of health is better understood. Rural clinicians, researchers, and other experts share perspectives on social isolation and loneliness.

Difficult economic conditions have caused many farmers to experience high levels of stress and a sense of hopelessness about saving their business and way of life. The Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline and NY FarmNet are working to improve farmers’ mental health and prevent suicides.

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.

The Rural Monitor

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

Topics: Minnesota

Doulas Provide Support for Maternal and Infant Health in Rural Communities

Remote Patient Monitoring Helps Rural Patients Recover at Home

Lakewood Engage Tackles Food Insecurity in Rural Minnesota

“It’s on Us”: Healthcare’s Unique Position in the Response to Human Trafficking

Physician Burnout: Definition(s), Cause(s), Impact(s), Solution(s)

It’s Possible: Voluntary Accreditation for Rural Public Health Departments

Understanding Rural Health Departments: Do They Have Unique Accreditation Needs?

Preventing Farmer Suicides through Helplines and Farm Visits

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