Topics: Texas

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

Philanthropy, Cross-Collaboration, and the Ecosystem That Is Rural Healthcare Delivery: Q&A with Dr. Shao-Chee Sim

As vice president for research, innovation, and evaluation at Texas-based Episcopal Health Foundation, Shao-Chee Sim, PhD, discusses how philanthropic organizations can make small rural research investments — and, in particular, leverage cross-funder collaboration — that impact not only funders themselves, but also healthcare delivery systems and the rural Americans they serve.

For the 240,000 rural Americans with complete kidney failure, it’s likely that very few knew they even had kidney disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kidney disease is usually silent; 90% of people with kidney disease don’t know they have it. With research pointing to the high costs of kidney disease for pediatric and adult patients alike — mostly covered by Medicare — experts and researchers discuss rural disparities around access to disease-stabilizing treatment and to renal replacement therapies.

A new library initiative in Texas and an established crisis line in Georgia are bringing mental health services directly to rural residents through teams of lay mental health workers and mental health professionals.

It’s a crisis: rural hospital closures. Helping at-risk hospitals thrive in order to continue to serve their communities, Texas A&M’s Center for Optimizing Rural Health (CORH) offers technical assistance through a federally funded program for vulnerable hospitals. The CORH team and an Oklahoma program participant share specifics on just how the program’s assistance can help keep doors open.

An event space in Dalhart, Texas was converted into a COVID-19 vaccine clinic, distributing 1,232 Pfizer vaccines to residents in a tri-county area and beyond, finding unique ways for the participants to promote the event on social media.

Nurses are an integral part of the rural healthcare workforce. Registered nurses from across the country share their stories about their path to nursing, their accomplishments, and how they provide healthcare in their rural communities.

From decreasing stigma to increasing treatment access and the impact of COVID-19, experts and rural healthcare organizations speak out on alcohol use and misuse in rural America.

Obstetric services were available in 205 fewer rural hospitals in 2014 than in 2004. Realizing the importance of maternity and childbirth services, a CAH in Alaska works to keep its providers’ skills sharp and a rural OB-GYN residency program in Wisconsin is beginning to train a new generation of physicians.

Moving the conversation away from finances, advocates share why general surgery plays an important role in a comprehensive rural population health strategy by delivering the right care in the right place at the right time.

Rural anesthesia providers partner with general surgeons to help deliver quality surgical care to rural patients.

The Rural Monitor

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

Topics: Texas

Philanthropy, Cross-Collaboration, and the Ecosystem That Is Rural Healthcare Delivery: Q&A with Dr. Shao-Chee Sim

Bringing Mental Health Services to Rural Residents

Keeping the Doors Open: Vulnerable Rural Hospitals Benefit from Federally Funded Technical Assistance

1,232 Doses of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Distributed at Coliseum in Dalhart, Texas

Rural Registered Nurses: Stories of Caring for Their Communities

Alcohol Use Disorder: Addressing Stigma and Treatment Access in Rural America

Strengthening the Workforce to Improve Pregnancy Outcomes in Rural Areas

Comprehensive Rural Population Health: Where is the General Surgeon?

The Rural General Surgeon’s Partner: Rural Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists