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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

Nov 26, 2024 - Discusses a student-led peer support initiative to destigmatize mental health in a rural Nevada community. Highlights existing challenges in accessing mental healthcare due to workforce shortages as well as limited transportation.
Source: The Nevada Independent
Nov 26, 2024 - Discusses the use of paramedicine and mobile units by a rural Indiana hospital to increase access to primary care. Highlights how the COVID-19 public health emergency allowed the hospital to expand already existing rural outreach efforts.
Source: WNIN
Nov 21, 2024 - Highlights a pilot program to place health coaches in 2 rural Tennessee communities to increase access to primary and preventive healthcare services. Program administrators hope it can become a model implemented statewide.
Source: UTHSC News
Nov 19, 2024 - Discusses mental healthcare challenges for rural Alabama residents including affordability, transportation challenges, and limited broadband access. Highlights a program aiming to reduce mental health disparities by addressing these issues through technology.
Source: WSFA
Nov 18, 2024 - Presents overview of the Rural Public Health Strategic Plan developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Rural Health (ORH). Includes commentary from ORH leadership on how the plan will guide their future work. Notes that the main priorities outlined in the plan include community health partnerships, rural public health infrastructure, rural public health science, and rural public health preparedness and response.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Nov 18, 2024 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee (ISUDCC) on December 11, 2024, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern. The ISUDCC agenda will focus on the ISUDCC's recommendations to HHS on how the Federal Government can further integrate and coordinate harm reduction approaches and strategies across the continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery policies, programs, and practices. Agenda items will also include presentations on the recent Harm Reduction Summit, the recovery and harm reduction workgroup, and an update on the Naloxone Saturation Policy Academy. Information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the SAMHSA website.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 18, 2024 - Interviews rural health researcher Carrie Henning-Smith on rural healthcare access, quality of life, rural health innovation, and her research focus.
Source: University of Minnesota News and Events
Nov 8, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcing the establishment of the CMS Health Equity Advisory Committee (HEAC) to advise and make recommendations to CMS on the identification and resolution of systemic barriers to accessing CMS programs that hinder the quality of care for beneficiaries and consumers. The Committee will focus on health disparities in underserved communities, which are populations sharing a particular characteristic or geography, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. CMS is also requesting nominations for membership on the HEAC. Nominations are due by December 12, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 7, 2024 - Highlights a recently completed research study aiming to determine the benefits and challenges of using autonomous vehicles on rural roads. Discusses the potential impact of this technology on rural resident health and well-being.
Source: Ohio University
Nov 4, 2024 - Highlights dangerous and often fatal grain bin accidents in agricultural work. Discusses strategies to avoid incidents including a Midwest-focused prevention program by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Source: WNIJ, Harvest Public Media