Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Aug 4, 2026 - Announces awarded funding for staff quarters project to support the healthcare workforce in tribal communities. Notes that living facilities can improve healthcare workforce recruiting and retaining efforts for the benefit of tribal communities.
Source: Indian Health Service
Aug 3, 2026 - Announces bipartisan legislation supporting specialty medical education and training for rural primary care providers using technology and the Project ECHO model.
Source: Office of Senator Shelley Moore Capito
Aug 3, 2026 - Offers data showing use of Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded health centers in 2025, noting that health centers saw the highest number of patients in the program's history. Rural areas saw the most growth. Also discusses funding for supporting food-based interventions, healthcare quality, and the role of health centers as training sites for the future health workforce.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Aug 1, 2026 - Rural emergency management service crews in Virginia have received training for delivering babies on roadsides. There have been recent increases in roadside deliveries following closure of rural labor and delivery departments in some hospitals.
Source: WSLS
Jul 31, 2026 - Describes a heart failure care program in rural West Virginia pharmacies. The program includes care coordination between local pharmacists and cardiovascular specialists to support consistent care and identify medication-related concerns early for rural patients.
Source: WVU Medicine
Jul 31, 2026 - Describes the workforce retention strategy at a Georgia-based rural health system. Discusses their career development services for existing employees, reskilling as workforce needs evolve, and using artificial intelligence to carry out the retention strategy.
Source: Health Leaders Media
Jul 30, 2026 - Highlights the shortage of rural radiology technicians in South Dakota and plans to address the shortage through new technical college programs.
Source: South Dakota Searchlight
Jul 29, 2026 - Describes obstetrical and gynecological workforce shortages in Wyoming. Discusses the impact of the shortages on provider burnout, availability of routine maternal healthcare, recruiting and retention in rural and other communities, and clinic finances. Discusses the focus on maternity care in Wyoming's Rural Health Transformation Program plan.
Source: WyoFile
Jul 28, 2026 - Announces new proposed legislation that would offer federal funding to incentivize interstate mental healthcare through telehealth with the goal of increasing access to care for rural communities.
Source: Office of Senator Angus King
Jul 28, 2026 - Describes the shortage of physicians in rural communities and highlights medical schools across the country focused on training the rural workforce. Discusses the Health Professions Opportunity Grant (HPOG), a federal career pathway program aiming to bring more people into healthcare careers. Highlights challenges with bringing more physicians to rural communities including physician preferences and hospital closures.
Source: The Daily Yonder

