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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: Texas

Telebehavioral Health: An Effective Alternative to In-Person Care
Issue brief discussing telehealth treatment modalities based on a 2019 review of clinical outcomes related to telebehavioral health. Covers three state-level approaches: the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center Rural Telemental Health Program (VA RTMH), which serves rural Oregon veterans, and Medicaid policies in Texas and Massachusetts. Addresses telebehavioral health policy details, implementation, and considerations for states looking to develop new telebehavioral health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Lily Sobolik, Valerie King
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Alcohol Use Disorder: Addressing Stigma and Treatment Access in Rural America
Examines alcohol use and misuse in rural America. Features the work of healthcare providers in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico. Discusses stigma, treatment access, and recovery. Addresses the impact of COVID-19 on treatment access, including the use of telehealth.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Texas SORH Fosters Quality Champions in Rural Hospitals Across the State
Details how the Texas State Office of Rural Health (SORH) developed a Quality Improvement Training Program (QITP) and associated fellowship program to improve rural healthcare quality in the state's hospitals. The QITP trains participants, helps them become certified for the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam, and encourages them to complete quality improvement projects within local hospitals.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Epidemiology of the 2020 Pandemic of COVID-19 in the State of Texas: The First Month of Community Spread
Provides an overview of COVID-19 spread in Texas from March 1 - April 8, 2020, comparing urban and rural rates. Examines data from national and state sources, analyzing case fatality and incidence rates in relation to county information, demographics including race/ethnicity, and availability of healthcare resources. Figure 1 offers a county map of Texas indicating COVID-19 prevalence rate and percentage of African American residents.
Author(s): Swapnil Khose, Justin Xavier Moore, Henry E. Wang
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 45, 696-710
Date: 06/2020
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Maternal Mortality: Trends in Pregnancy-Related Deaths and Federal Efforts to Reduce Them
Examines trends in pregnancy-related deaths between 2007 and 2016, Analyzes data by cause of death, racial and ethnic groups, and age. Appendix III lists ongoing Department of Health and Human Services funding opportunities to address maternal mortality, including the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program. Appendix V provides an overview of efforts to reduce maternal mortality in California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Texas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The High Obesity Program: A Collaboration Between Public Health and Cooperative Extension Services to Address Obesity
Describes the activities of Programs to Reduce Obesity in High Obesity Areas, also known as High Obesity Program (HOP), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with land grant universities and local Cooperative Extension Offices. HOP was designed to implement evidence-based strategies to improve physical activity and nutrition in mostly rural communities with high rates of obesity to reduce obesity and prevent or control diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Author(s): Sahra Kahin, Ashleigh Murriel, Anu Pejavara, Terrence O'Toole, Ruth Petersen
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
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Val Verde Regional Medical Center Implements SMART ER
Describes Val Verde Regional Medical Center's (VVRMC) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project focused on care transitions and healthcare quality. VVRMC is a 47-bed hospital in Del Rio, Texas. Discusses how VVRMC collected data and implemented protocols to improve patient satisfaction.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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A Best Practices Approach to Treating Maternal Hemorrhage
Provides an overview of how Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas, developed and implemented protocols to improve maternal hemorrhage outcomes. Discusses the impact and lessons learned from implementing the protocols as well, as future maternal health improvement goals at the medical center.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Improving the Care of Students with Diabetes in Rural Schools Utilizing an Online Diabetes Education Program for School Personnel
Analyzes the impact of Diabetes Care at School: Bridging the Gap, an online diabetes education program, to determine the knowledge and confidence of school personnel who provide care to students with diabetes in rural areas.
Author(s): Cassity Gutierrez
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 20(1), 5596
Date: 02/2020
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Potential Predictors of Hospital Length of Stay and Hospital Charges among Patients with All-terrain Vehicle Injuries in Rural Northeast Texas
Examines which factors associated with all-terrain vehicle injuries are predictive of hospital length of stay and hospital charges in rural Northeast Texas. Analyzes how facility of treatment, injury severity, and initial emergency department vital signs are correlated to hospital length of stay and cost of care.
Author(s): Anastasia Miller, Jeanie D. Gallegly, Gabriela Orsak, et al.
Citation: Journal of Injury and Violence Research, 12(1), 55-62
Date: 01/2020
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