NRHA's Rural Health Voices blog offers informed commentary on the latest news in rural health care from NRHA staff and editorials from selected contributors.
Over the last 10 years, more than 129 rural and community hospitals have closed their doors, with the highest number in 2019. The current COVID-19 pandemic is certain to accelerate this rate of insolvency, so it is important to revisit the role of these vital providers in their respective communities. Without answers to important questions, the continued loss of these hospitals may jeopardize the health of rural residents and devastate communities across the country.
Read more
The allure of being a child social worker in a rural area is strong. Social workers who decide to work in smaller communities may forgo an abundance of resources to support families, but they gain slower-paced, socially supportive neighborhoods with strong connections to the natural environment. So what happens during a first-in-our-lifetime pandemic in communities already lacking in resources? It gets complicated.
Read more
-
Author:
Donna Douglas
-
The Journal of Rural Health , NRHA’s quarterly, scholarly publication, recognizes its 2020 Article of the Year, selected by the JRH Editorial Board from all articles published online last year. The 2020 Article of the Year is “Utilization of Interactive Clinical Video Telemedicine by Rural and Urban Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration Health Care System” by Scott V. Adams, PhD; Michael J. Mader, MS; Mary J. Bollinger, PhD; Edwin S. Wong, PhD; Teresa J. Hudson...
Read more
-
Author:
Brock Slabach
-
Individuals in rural communities often face barriers to health stemming from economic factors, environmental differences, and feelings of isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a generational challenge and exacerbated these concerns, revealing a critical need for rapid response efforts. With the support of a generous grant of $200,000 from CoBank, NRHA is helping rural health care providers overcome barriers they face through the creation...
Read more
-
Author:
Alex T. Olson
-
NRHA stands in solidarity with communities of color as we fight against the systematic, individually mediated, and internalized racism deeply embedded within our country and its institutions. Structural racism is a public health crisis, and its effects are detrimental to the physical and mental health of all individuals and communities. It is an underlying condition contributing to health inequities and the disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality borne by racial minorities.
Read more
-
Author:
Laura Hudson
-
Research shows rural populations have lower dental care utilization, higher rates of dental caries, lower rates of insurance, higher rates of poverty, less water fluoridation, fewer dentists per population, and greater travel distances to access care compared to urban populations. Improving the oral health of rural populations requires innovative practices and flexible approaches to expand and better distribute the rural oral health workforce, including approaches tailored to remote areas...
Read more
-
Author:
Tommy Barnhart
-
A significant amount of discussion on NRHA Connect and in other organizations has focused on
accounting and cost report treatment of various funding streams from COVID-19-related
legislation. This paper outlines some issues involved and suggests positions providers may
consider or discussions they should have with their financial and reimbursement advisers. The
positions of NRHA are not authoritative and should not be solely relied upon for financial or
reimbursement reporting. In...
Read more
-
Author:
Mike Milligan
-
With months of nothing but COVID-19 in the news, the promise of better days seems to be that much closer. Many states have started dialogues with residents about what reopening will look like and when it may begin. In Wisconsin, criteria for reopening includes “95 percent of hospitals being in a position to treat all patients without crisis care and test all direct-care staff with symptoms for COVID-19.” When will hospitals reach 95 percent? No one knows exactly – which...
Read more
-
Author:
Mason Zeagler
-
The National Rural Health Association and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have partnered to present a series of regional webinars to highlight Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding available to support America's rural healthcare providers, titled "Rural Providers and the Paycheck Protection Program."
Read more
-
Author:
Author Name
-
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is proud to announce its 2020 Rural Health Award recipients. The Rural Health Awards are given each year to individuals and organizations in the field of rural health who have dedicated their time and talents to improving the health and well-being of others. “We’re extremely proud of this year’s winners,” says Alan Morgan, NRHA CEO. “They have each made tremendous strides to advance rural health care, and we’re...
Read more