Rural Healthcare Workforce – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Jul 22, 2024 - Features the perspectives of rural doctors on the positive aspects of rural practice, including high quality of life, a varied caseload, and supportive community relationships. Provides overview of rural health disparities and efforts to address provider shortages through loan forgiveness programs.
Source: BU Today
Jul 11, 2024 - Describes the effect the federal mandate on nursing home staffing is likely to have on nursing homes in Oklahoma. The rule would require Oklahoma to hire more than 1,200 full-time employees, including 538 nurse aides and 715 RNs over the 5 years the rule is phased in, and is seen as a particular threat to rural nursing homes.
Source: KOSU
Jul 9, 2024 - Profiles the rural family medicine residency program in Winnemucca, Nevada. Describes the process through which physicians become connected to rural communities in which they practice.
Source: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jul 8, 2024 - A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that 46.3% of U.S. counties, many of which are rural, lack a cardiologist. Features a county-level map with shadings showing counties with at least one cardiologist.
Source: NBC News
Jul 8, 2024 - The Della Keats program, with a focus on rural Alaska Native students considering careers in health-related professions, lapsed due to a lack of funding, but is back for the first time since 2018. The initiative won a $1.3 million grant from the Indian Health Service that should fund it for at least 5 more years.
Source: Alaska Beacon
Jul 6, 2024 - Discusses a study addressing rural mental health workforce shortages, by analyzing factors that influence where healthcare professionals practice. Uses survey data collected by the Minnesota Department of Health from February 2022-2023, and includes responses from mental health clinicians who prescribe medications, licensed mental health professionals, licensed psychologists, and licensed alcohol and drug counselors.
Source: Echo Press
Jul 1, 2024 - Announces funding to support 42 programs aimed at improving care for older Americans, including people experiencing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The initiative integrates geriatric training into primary care and also provides families and caregivers of older adults with the knowledge and skills to help them support their loved ones.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HRSA: Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas
Federal Register
Jul 1, 2024 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as primary care, mental health, and/or dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). HPSA designations that are currently proposed for withdrawal will remain in this status until they are re-evaluated in preparation for the publication of the HPSA Federal Register notice on or before November 1, 2024. Lists are available on the shortage areas topic page on data.hrsa.gov and are current as of April 15, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 28, 2024 - Explores the Three Sisters Rural Track Program, which is a three-year family medicine program serving Central Oregon. Details the program's efforts to locate graduates from Oregon Health & Science University into residency positions at rural hospitals in Central Oregon with the aim of increasing rural physician retention.
Source: MyCentralOregon.com
Jun 28, 2024 - Highlights how University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) graduates are filling gaps in the rural healthcare workforce throughout NC. Discusses scholarship programs for low-income students and the utilization of programs like the AmeriCorps MedServe fellowship.
Source: UNC Greensboro
Last Updated: 7/23/2024