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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce

Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances among Office-Based Physicians, 2017
Examines rates of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), with information by type of physician practice, including rural or urban location, practice size, practice ownership, physician specialty, and technology available. EPCS is mandated for Medicare Part D providers by 2021, through the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act.
Author(s): Sonal Parasrampuria, Martin Blanco, Wesley Barker
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Use of Apprenticeship to Meet Demand for Medical Assistants in the U.S.
Reports findings from a study of registered medical assistant (MA) apprenticeship programs in 12 states. Discusses the workforce needs these programs may help address, including workforce needs in rural communities. Describes the programs and discusses challenges with starting and maintaining MA apprenticeship programs.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Andrew D. Jopson, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Russell County Hospital Listens to their Community to Improve Transitions of Care
Highlights quality improvement activities underway at a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in rural Kentucky. Discusses community collaboration efforts, expansion of specialty services, renovations, a focus on staff satisfaction, and care coordination activities.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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The Providers
Collection of learning resources related to The Providers, a film which follows 3 healthcare providers employed at a group of safety-net clinics in northern New Mexico. Explores the physician shortage, health disparities, and the opioid epidemic in rural America. Geared toward high school and college students.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: PBS Learning Media
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Minnesota's Dental Therapist Workforce, 2019
Provides an overview of the dental therapist workforce in Minnesota, including the history of the profession in the state, educational programs, scope of practice, and licensing requirements. Reports results of a March 2019 survey of the state's dental therapist workforce, with data on demographics, education, employment, work settings, and geographic distribution. Includes data on work location by level of rurality.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Provider Shortages and Limited Availability of Behavioral Health Services in New Mexico's Medicaid Managed Care
Examines the supply and distribution of behavioral health providers and prescribers across New Mexico, with a focus on services available to Medicaid managed care enrollees. Includes data for rural and frontier counties. Discusses rural broadband connectivity challenges that impact the use of telehealth to address access. Offers policy recommendations. Findings are likely to be relevant to behavioral healthcare access in other states' rural and frontier counties.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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State Strategies to Address Opioid Use Disorder Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Infants Prenatally Exposed to Substances, Including Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Identifies state strategies to improve outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder and infants prenatally exposed to substances, including opioids. Discusses strategies focused on access to and coordination of quality services, including approaches such as telemedicine that are useful in rural areas. Also discusses strategies related to provider awareness and training and other topics.
Author(s): Charlan D. Kroelinger, Marion E. Rice, Shanna Cox, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(36), 777-783
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Violence Against Hospital Workers: Growing Awareness, Rural Interventions, and Why It Still Goes Unreported
Provides an overview of workplace violence in healthcare settings. Features rural hospitals in Oregon and Idaho that are undertaking a range of prevention activities addressing workplace violence. Also features research findings from a Michigan healthcare system study on the topic, and identifies resources and tools that rural hospital leaders can use to help protect hospital staff.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Family Medicine Rural Training Track Residencies: Risks and Resilience
Results of a study to understand threats to rural training track (RTT) program sustainability and resilience factors that help RTTs to thrive.
Author(s): Davis G. Patterson, David Schmitz, Randall L. Longenecker
Citation: Family Medicine, 51(8), 649-656
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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Wisconsin Number of Psychiatrist FTEs Needed to Remove Shortages for the Resident Population
Shows the number of psychiatrists needed to remove the Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation for each county in the state of Wisconsin.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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