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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Health occupations

Nov 19, 2024 - A Des Moines, Iowa area hospital is using a helicopter service to reach pregnant women in need of emergency specialized care. The program is offered statewide, particularly in areas with few or no obstetricians, in response to a shortage of maternity care in Iowa.
Source: KCRG
Nov 15, 2024 - Reports on a rural mental health summit in Plainville, Kansas, which included discussion of the role of rural faith leaders in connecting residents with mental health resources. Notes that, in areas where mental health professionals are scarce, residents may be more likely to seek help from local faith communities. Describes efforts to distribute mental health resource brochures to churches and provide mental health training opportunities to a range of rural community members.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Nov 11, 2024 - Discusses the ongoing impact of Hurricane Helene for a rural North Carolina county that lost its only dental clinic for low-income patients in the storm. Discusses barriers to recruiting more dental workforce and efforts to maintain some services in a repurposed mobile van.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Nov 7, 2024 - Highlights the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Dentistry's efforts to increase the rural dental workforce. Discusses both tuition incentives and learning experiences connecting students with rural patients.
Source: University of Nebraska Medical Center Newsroom
Nov 7, 2024 - Discusses a new training program to address mental health workforce shortages in Vermont. The program will place mental health workers in rural schools and offer incentives for students that continue working at their placement beyond graduation.
Source: Vermont Public
Nov 4, 2024 - Highlights the growth of community health worker (CHW) programs across the country. Notes that CHW programs in rural areas can help connect low-income and minority communities to health systems and navigate common barriers to care. Describes the impacts of a CHW program in Huron, South Dakota, which was created through a federal grant program and is now funded by Medicaid reimbursements.
Source: South Dakota Searchlight, KFF Health News
Nov 4, 2024 - Provides overview of findings from the 2024 Idaho Nursing Workforce Report issued by the Idaho Center for Nursing. Notes that retirements are outpacing the number of new nurses entering the workforce. Highlights the success of Idaho's new rural nurse loan repayment program and explores recommendations for further improvements to meet nursing workforce demand.
Source: Idaho Capital Sun
Nov 4, 2024 - Discusses disparities in access to mental healthcare in rural California. Discusses workforce shortages, technology facilitators and barriers to access, and affordability.
Source: California Health Report
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extending the comment period on the draft Hazard Review: Wildland Fire Smoke Exposure Among Farmworkers and Other Outdoor Workers. The purpose of the Hazard Review document is to provide an overview of the relevant health effects literature and present evidence-based recommendations to protect outdoor workers, including farm workers, construction workers, oil and gas workers, park rangers, emergency responders, and others, from the adverse health effects of occupational exposure to wildland fire smoke. Comments are now due by January 10, 2025. An informational webinar about the draft Hazard Review document will be held on December 3, 2024, at 1:00p.m. Eastern. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 30, 2024 - Arizona's Medicaid agency is funding new on-call OB-GYN providers for rural communities. The initiative is meant to increase access to care for people in maternity care deserts. Discusses challenges with recruiting healthcare providers to rural areas and the role of mental health in mortality for pregnant and postpartum women.
Source: Cronkite News