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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services

Promising Practice: NC Office of Rural Health Helps Rural Providers Get Connected to HIT
Highlights the North Carolina Office of Rural Health Information Technology (ORH HIT) program. ORH HIT is working to connect behavioral health and other healthcare providers through a state health information exchange (HIE).
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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American Cancer Society and Community Health Centers Partner to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening
Describes a partnership between the American Cancer Society and a system of community health centers in New Orleans and 7 rural locations in south central Texas, for the purpose of promoting interventions to increase rates of colorectal cancer screening. Examines strategies for reaching diverse, underserved populations and increasing community demand, community access, and provider delivery of services by using electronic health records to track screenings.
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Community Preventive Services Task Force
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Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs
Describes broadband Internet access issues in rural and underserved areas and federal assistance programs in place to help address these issues. Includes information on support specific to rural healthcare.
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Rural Development 2018 Performance Report
Report highlights the performance of investments by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development for 2018. Features three successful rural programs funded by USDA Rural Development. Includes a list of Rural Development State Offices.
Date: 2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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The Relationship Between Rural Setting and Health: Factors that Influence Individuals With or at Risk of CVD - A Summary of the Literature
Describes current literature on rural challenges and opportunities, including cardiovascular risk due to obesity, lack of access to healthcare, workforce shortages, importance of paramedics and community health workers, telehealth and broadband, and impact of the substance use disorder epidemic. Intended to help stakeholders understand the causes of health disparities and to support action to improve the health of rural communities.
Date: 2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Heart Association
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Deconstructing the Digital Divide: Identifying the Supply and Demand Factors That Drive Internet Subscription Rates
Provides discussion and analysis on the factors influencing broadband subscription rates, including information based on service availability and community attributes. Describes rural specific examples and contexts throughout.
Author(s): Michael J. R. Martin
Date: 2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Round 2: Model Test Annual Report Three
Third annual report on the Round 2 State Innovation Models (SIM) program across eleven participating states - Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington. Addresses the adoption of delivery models and payment reforms related to value-based payment (VBP) and alternative payment models (APMs). Offers an update and lessons learned on strategies to support healthcare delivery transformation related to behavioral health integration, data for improving health care quality and performance, health information technology, care coordination, and workforce development. Describes states' population health activities. Includes discussion of rural issues throughout the report.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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2018 Report to Congress: Annual Update on the Adoption of a Nationwide System for the Electronic Use and Exchange of Health Information
Annual report to Congress describing progress related to the adoption of health information technology (HIT). Describes barriers to progress and recommendations related to interoperability, technical capacity, data transparency, and support for provider adoption.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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HealthierRuralWest Resource Guide
Lists information and resources on various rural health topics, such as telehealth; broadband; other technologies to support rural healthcare; social determinants of health; healthcare workforce; mental health; substance abuse; and health equity. Includes rural health resources for specific audiences, including providers, researchers, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and communities.
Author(s): David Angelson, Phil Polakoff
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: A Healthier WE
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Methods Used to Enable Interoperability among U.S. Non-Federal Acute Care Hospitals in 2017
Analyzes 2017 American Hospital Association IT Supplement survey data to describe the methods used by acute care hospitals in the U.S. to support interoperability. Discusses hospital participation in health information networks by hospital size and location. Includes information on the rates of small, rural, and Critical Access Hospitals' (CAH) use of non-electronic methods to exchanging patient health information with partners outside their hospital system.
Author(s): Christian Johnson, Yuriy Pylypchuk, Vaishali Patel
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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