Topics: Public health

For more information and resources, see RHIhub’s Public Health topic guide.

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

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.

Sharing how national and state voluntary accreditation helps their department meet the public health needs of their county’s population — and its 8 million yearly visitors — Missouri’s Taney County Health Department director Leslie Marshall also provides tips and ideas for other rural health departments thinking about accreditation.

Vaccination rates for rural children and adolescents are lower than for their urban counterparts. A nurse practitioner in Louisiana and a former professor in Kentucky share how they’ve increased vaccination rates in their communities.

Because private water sources are not regulated, rural residents who rely on them can be more susceptible to health risks from waterborne contaminants. Water experts and a public health professional share how they are helping rural residents keep their well water clean to avoid sickness.

Scott County, Indiana, has been in the national spotlight since experiencing the largest HIV outbreak in rural America’s recent history. The town’s only physician at the time, Dr. William Cooke, took action to bring healing and hope to his community of Austin and the surrounding county. In this Q&A, he shares the motivation behind his compassionate approach to care.

In this in-depth story, multiple clinical issues surrounding domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural settings are discussed by providers, researchers, and those serving indigenous populations. Rural prevalence rates, provider knowledge gaps, and healthcare expenditures are also reviewed.

Late life domestic violence, considered by some to be a subcategory of elder abuse, also needs the attention of healthcare providers. Hear from researchers about prevalence, screening, costs, and legal issues, in addition to work being done in indigenous populations.

Alaska’s Southcentral Foundation has a specific solution to Native Alaskan domestic violence issues: the Family Wellness Warriors Initiative.

The Rural Monitor

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

Topics: Public health

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

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

Taney County Health Department: Accreditation and Holding to a Higher Standard

Effective Communication and Consistency in Increasing Rural Vaccination Rates

Running Clear: Preventing Private Water Sources from Becoming a Health Hazard in Rural America

Responding to the HIV Crisis in Scott County, Indiana: Q&A with Dr. William Cooke

Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence: Some Do’s and Don’ts for Health Providers

Indigenous People and Domestic Violence: Who’s Bringing Solutions