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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Recruitment and retention of health professionals

A Dire Shortage and Getting Worse: Solving the Crisis in the Health Care Workforce
Video of a May 20, 2021 U.S. Senate hearing with testimony from representatives of the Association of American Medical Colleges, the National Medical Association, Albany (Georgia) Area Primary Health Care, and the University of New England. Examines lack of access to high-quality care in rural and underserved areas, and the importance of training students likely to practice in rural areas.
Additional links: David J. Skorton Statement, James D. Herbert Statement, Leon McDougle Statement, Shelley Spires Statement
Author(s): David J. Skorton, Leon McDougle, Shelley Spires, James D. Herbert
Date: 05/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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On the Front Lines of Health Equity: Community Health Workers
Provides an overview of the roles of community health workers (CHWs) and the benefits they can bring to healthcare organizations and communities. Serves as a resource for organizations planning and implementing a new CHW program. Includes information and best practices on assessing community needs, recruiting CHWs, and securing sustainable program funding.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Iowa Nursing Demand Survey Report
Summarizes the results of a survey conducted between February and September 2020 on the demand of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced registered nurse practitioners in Iowa. Discusses anticipated changes to demand and potential shortages, as well as barriers to recruitment and retention. Presents data by employer type, urban or rural location, and size.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa Board of Nursing, Iowa Center for Nursing Workforce
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The Clinical Laboratory Workforce: Understanding the Challenges to Meeting Current and Future Needs
Explores workforce needs of the U.S. laboratory medicine field, including recruitment and retention, expanding the visibility of clinical laboratory careers, and promoting diversity and inclusion. Summarizes a literature review and data analysis based on interviews with informants in clinical laboratory education and professional programs. Discusses rural-specific barriers to recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Edna C. Garcia, Grace A. Guenther, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Society for Clinical Pathology, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Health Workforce Strategies for California: A Review of the Evidence
Examines literature and evidence on healthcare workforce strategies, discussing workforce issues in urban and rural areas in California. Describes the impacts of pipeline, scholarship, loan repayment, professional training, and residency programs, including rural-specific considerations.
Author(s): Diane Rittenhouse, Alexandra Ament, Janet Genevro, Kara Contreary
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: California Health Care Foundation, Mathematica
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States Work to Support Rural Hospitals Despite Pandemic Challenges
Blog post highlighting state-level policies to address and prevent rural hospital closures. Discusses proposals in state legislatures regarding alternative payment methodologies and funding, service delivery models, and the recruitment and retention of a rural healthcare workforce.
Author(s): Beth Giambrone
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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2021 Idaho Primary Care Needs Assessment
Identifies Idaho communities with the greatest unmet healthcare needs, disparities, and healthcare workforce shortages, and discusses key barriers to accessing preventive and primary care services. Includes sections on Health Professional Shortage Areas, Medically Underserved Areas and Populations, the Idaho State Loan Repayment Program, the Rural Physician Incentive Program, primary care educational opportunities, and advanced medical training programs in Idaho. Features maps showing urban, rural, and frontier areas, locations of Rural Health Clinics, and locations of Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Alex Prado
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Mississippi Primary Care Needs Assessment
Identifies Mississippi communities with the greatest unmet healthcare needs and offers recommendations for allocating resources, managing shortage designations, and coordinating the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals. Includes sections on social determinants of health, Health Professional Shortage Areas, Graduate Medical Education, and workforce development. Features statistics on various diseases and health conditions.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Mississippi Office of Rural Health, Mississippi State Department of Health
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Challenges to Admitting Residents: Perspectives from Rural Nursing Home Administrators and Staff
Study of nursing home admissions in rural areas that examines challenges nursing home workers encounter when admitting individuals with mental and behavioral health conditions, obesity, dementia, and complex medical conditions. Discusses capacity challenges facing rural nursing homes related to population density, workforce recruitment and retention, financial issues, and space and equipment needs to meet specific health conditions. Data taken from surveys of 209 rural nursing home administrators.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Dori Cross, Adrita Rahman
Citation: Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 58, 1-8
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
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Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis
Documentation of a March 23, 2021, House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on maternal health disparities. Discusses causes and possible policy options to reduce these disparities.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
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