RHIhub This Week - October 15, 2025
As an information clearinghouse on rural health issues, RHIhub provides access to a wide range of resources on relevant topics. Inclusion on RHIhub does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by RHIhub or the Health Resources and Services Administration.
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Oct 15, 2025 -- Highlights the work of rural health fellows at Augusta University in Georgia. Discusses the benefits to both the rural communities and the fellows themselves. Notes the potential for retaining fellows in rural practice where there are workforce shortages for both primary and specialty care. Source: Jagwire Mont. Sheriff Seeks Increased Training for Deputies to Bolster Rural EMS Oct 14, 2025 -- A rural Montana sheriff's department is offering deputies a first responder medical training and certification program. The program would allow deputies to assist emergency medical services (EMS) providers in situations with multiple victims or provide aid while waiting for EMS to arrive. Notes that understaffing, poor weather, and large service areas can make EMS response times long. Discusses upcoming work by the state legislature to address EMS challenges. Source: EMS 1 Study: Mobile Health Clinics Offer Alternative Access to Care Oct 14, 2025 -- Describes a trend toward using mobile health clinics in rural and other communities to increase access to healthcare. Discusses how mobile clinics can fill gaps in telehealth services, improve health outcomes, be used for community paramedicine programs, develop the healthcare workforce, and more. Notes the need for better data and more funding to continue research on the impact of mobile clinics. Source: The Daily Yonder APSU Professor LeAnn Wills Highlights Vital Role of Rural School Counselors in Community Mental Health Oct 12, 2025 -- Discusses the experience of rural school counselors as often the only access to mental healthcare for their students. Notes the importance of accounting for rural culture in mental healthcare and the limited representation of rural school counselors in research. Profiles a rural Tennessee school counselor. Source: Clarksville Online |
A full-time fellowship for early-career clinicians who have an interest in partnering with rural communities to improve health. The fellowship includes a Master's Degree in Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and focused clinical time in Rosebud, South Dakota at an Indian Health Service site. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Oct 31, 2025 Sponsors: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Massachusetts General Hospital Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health Scholarship Financial support for American Indian and Alaska Native scholars, health leaders, health professionals, and paraprofessionals serving tribal communities who are interested in attending the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health Summer or Winter Institute courses at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Nov 7, 2025 Sponsor: Center for Indigenous Health Native American Congressional Internship A summer internship for Native American and Alaska Native students who wish to learn more about the federal government and issues affecting tribal and federal relationships. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2026 Sponsor: Morris K Udall and Stewart L Udall Foundation AHRQ TeamSTEPPS Training Training opportunities designed to help healthcare teams enhance communication, manage challenges more collaboratively, and effectively implement TeamSTEPPS to improve patient care. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) A federal-state partnership that provides funding and technical assistance to help water systems and states achieve the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Medicare Physician Bonuses in Health Professional Shortage Areas Medicare bonus payments to physicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Funding for financially distressed rural communities of less than 2,500 people to assist with feasibility studies, design assistance, and technical assistance on water and waste disposal projects. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development USDA Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program Loans from eligible private lenders, guaranteed by USDA, to help build essential community facilities in rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development Virtual Living Room - Using Technology to Address the Critical Healthcare Needs of Veterans in Rural Areas A grant program that combines rural technology, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs resources, and local support to provide solutions to improve healthcare access for veterans in rural areas. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: Foundation for Rural Service, NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program Secured, direct loans and loan guarantees for eligible water infrastructure projects. In addition, technical assistance may be provided to prospective borrowers, especially small and rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
Examines participation in and impact of Summer EBT (S-EBT), or SUNBucks, during the summer of 2024. Provides data on food insecurity, experiences using S-EBT, and S-EBT information and communications, with information specific to rural parents and families. Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry Date: 10/2025 2025 Cybersecurity Year in Review, Part One: Breaches and Defensive Measures Provides an overview of cybersecurity issues currently impacting the healthcare field. Describes recent patterns in reported cyberattacks and identifies cybersecurity practices for prevention and mitigation. Discusses the need for healthcare facilities to understand their cyber risk exposure. Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Date: 10/2025 Assessing Populations with Access to National Cancer Institute-Funded Sites Using Local Distance-Based Service Areas Examines variations in travel distance to sites funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) demographic group. Includes data on access to NCI-funded cancer care and participation in clinical trials by rurality, income level, region, and more. Author(s): Sharon P. Shriver, Liora Sahar, Vanhvilai L. Douangchai Wills, Devon V. Adams, Mark E. Fleury Location: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), e218 Date: 09/2025 Does Caregiver Well-Being Differ by Rurality and State Policy Environment? Identifying a Well-Being Typology for Rural, Suburban, and Urban Caregivers Results of a study of informal caregiver well-being, exploring ways in which geographic location, individual circumstances, and state-level policies can impact a caregiver's health, comfort, and happiness. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas. Author(s): Elena Maria Pojman, Florence Becot, Zuzana Bednarik, Carrie Henning-Smith Location: Rural Sociology, 90(3), e70015 Date: 09/2025 Doing More With Less: Turning Efficient Cybersecurity Into Savings In Rural Healthcare Recording of an October 7, 2025, webinar regarding cybersecurity threats, how to proactively address these threats, and how to limit their impact. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series. Additional links: Presentation Slides Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics Date: 10/2025 Health Industry Cybersecurity Sector Mapping and Risk Toolkit (SMART) Provides templates and methodologies for healthcare providers, insurance plans, and manufacturers to map and identify systemic cybersecurity risks posed by third party technology, software, and communications services. Includes considerations for small and rural healthcare organizations. Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity Working Group Date: 10/2025 Higher Mortality Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Rural Versus Urban Dwellers Persists for Two Years Post-Infection Compares two-year post-COVID-19 mortality by level of rurality among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection which occurred between April 2020 and December 2022, utilizing National Clinical Cohort Collaborative COVID-19 Enclave data. Includes data on overall mortality risk, excess mortality, trends in mortality over time, and new onset conditions among urban, urban-adjacent rural, and nonurban-adjacent rural populations. Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Michael T. Vest, Makayla E. Schissel, et al. Location: Nature Communications, 16, 8933 Date: 10/2025 Navigating the J-1 Visa Waiver Job Search Offers a basic overview for physicians interested in obtaining a J-1 visa waiver. Includes contact information for agencies offering waivers and timelines for applications and job search processes. Sponsoring organization: 3RNET Date: 2025 The New Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Program: Will It Improve Access to Care for Rural Americans? Discusses rural hospital closures and the potential impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Provides U.S. maps showing Medicaid Expansion states and rural hospital closures as well as data specific to REHs in Texas. Author(s): Suzanne B. Daly, Wei You, Elizabeth I. Merwin Location: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4) Date: 10/2025 Rural-Urban Differences in Dietary Intake Across Pregnancy Trimesters: A Multisite Prospective Cohort Study Examines the relationship among dietary intake during pregnancy, socioeconomic status (SES), and rural versus urban location. Analyzes screening data from 495 pregnant women with rural versus urban breakdowns according to study site; demographics; SES variables of income, education, and insurance status; and fiber intake. Discusses the impact of rurality and SES on nutrition during pregnancy. Author(s): Alex H. Crisp, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Jacob B. Gallagher, et al. Location: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70085 Date: 10/2025 Seat Belt Use in 2024 – Overall Results (Revised) Examines rates of seat belt use and occupant fatalities from 2011-2024. Includes data on seat belt use for 2023 and 2024 in rural and urban areas. Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Date: 10/2025 State Youth Peer Support Policy Toolkit Toolkit presents resources and guidance for developing and supporting state-level policy for peer support to address youth mental health needs. Highlights models, funding mechanisms, and training, among other aspects integral to youth peer support programs. Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America Date: 09/2025 |
Deadline: Oct 31, 2025 National Indian Child Welfare Association Event Dates: Mar 29 - Apr 1, 2026 Oklahoma City, OK Conference Website Call for Presentations: 2026 28th Annual Indiana Rural Health Conference Deadline: Nov 15, 2025 Indiana Rural Health Association Event Dates: Jun 23 - 24, 2026 French Lick, IN Conference Website Call for Abstracts: 2026 Annual NACCHO Conference Deadline: Nov 28, 2025 National Association of County and City Health Officials Event Dates: Jul 14 - 17, 2026 Louisville, KY Conference Website Call for Presentations: 2026 Rural Medical Training Collaborative (RMTC) Annual Meeting Deadline: Nov 30, 2025 Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly the RTT Collaborative) Event Dates: Apr 8 - 10, 2026 Duluth, MN Conference Website |
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