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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

COVID-19 and Rural Health Clinics: Ask Us Anything!!
Recording of a November 23, 2020, webinar offering responses to common questions about the funding of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 testing and the required reporting. Identifies links to resources related to COVID-19 testing in RHCs and in rural areas. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 11/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Synergistic Disparities and Public Health Mitigation of COVID-19 in the Rural United States
Describes how public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize racial, economic, and geographic disparities, especially among rural and poor populations. Covers public health mitigation measures, including disease surveillance, physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, and public health communication. Discusses the ethical demands of public health practice during and following a public health emergency.
Author(s): Kata Chillag, Lisa Lee
Citation: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 17(4), 649-656
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Innovative COVID-19 Programs to Rapidly Serve New Mexico: Project ECHO
Details an evaluation of 10 different telementoring programs created by Project ECHO to address the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico. Compares the attendance data and infection data by county. Explores lessons learned and discusses Project ECHO's potential role in future crises.
Author(s): Joanna G. Katzman, Laura E. Tomedi, Karla Thornton, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 136(1), 39-46
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Listening to Rural Stories: Q&A with Alisa Druzba
An interview with Alisa Druzba, director of the New Hampshire's Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, who discusses her journey to becoming a State Office of Rural Health (SORH) director, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her state, and the work her office focuses on to support rural New Hampshire.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, 2020
Discusses four ethical principles that will inform the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for the initial allocation of COVID-19 vaccine: maximizing benefits and minimizing harms; promoting justice; mitigating health inequities; and promoting transparency. The section on health inequities includes discussion of concerns for rural residents.
Author(s): Nancy McClung, Mary Chamberland, Kathy Kinlaw, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(47), 1782-1786
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Indian Health Service COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine Plan
Highlights the Indian Health Service's plan for distributing the COVID-19 vaccination in Indian Country when it becomes available. Discusses the administration, distribution, and prioritization of the vaccine and features planning scenarios and facility planning resources.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Ensuring Health Across Rural Minnesota in 2030
Offers recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders on how to expand access to high-quality and inexpensive healthcare for rural communities in Minnesota. Covers trends in factors that may affect rural health, such as increased diversity, older populations, higher healthcare costs, lack of broadband, closures of healthcare facilities, and more. Discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated issues in rural communities.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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COVID-19 Stats: COVID-19 Incidence, by Urban-Rural Classification — United States, January 22–October 31, 2020
Line chart showing COVID-19 incidence for large central metropolitan, large fringe metro, medium/small metro, and micropolitan/noncore (rural) areas.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(46), 1753
Date: 11/2020
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Community Health Center Telehealth Utilization in Rural and Urban States During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Analyzes community health centers' utilization of telehealth services by state for the week prior to October 16, 2020. Compares the percentage of health center visits conducted virtually to the proportion of the population of each state that lives in rural areas.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health, RCHN Community Health Foundation
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Rethinking Rural Health: FY 2020 Year in Review
Provides an overview of Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) programs and activities that have affected rural health and healthcare in fiscal year 2020. Focuses on nine priority areas: COVID-19, maternal health, Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), quality improvement, practitioner engagement, patient empowerment and person-centered care, Medicare and Medicaid payment and policy, models and demonstrations, and telehealth.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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