Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Strategic Options for the Modernization of the Indian Health Service Health Information Technology: Final Report
Identifies recommended approaches and next steps for modernizing the Indian Health Service use of health information technology (HIT). Addresses the needs of both patients and the health workforce that will use the system, as well as governance and a variety of technological issues. Lists constraints to HIT modernization along with proposed mitigations for those constraints.
Additional links: Roadmap: Executive Summary
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Identifies recommended approaches and next steps for modernizing the Indian Health Service use of health information technology (HIT). Addresses the needs of both patients and the health workforce that will use the system, as well as governance and a variety of technological issues. Lists constraints to HIT modernization along with proposed mitigations for those constraints.
Additional links: Roadmap: Executive Summary
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Additional Action to Manage Fraud Risks in Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas
Examines the funding reforms and fraud controls implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for small, rural telecommunications carriers, identified as "rate-of-return carriers". Includes recommendations to the FCC supporting fraud risk management, regular assessments, and newly designed strategies. Appendix I identifies key elements of a fraud-risk management assessment process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the funding reforms and fraud controls implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for small, rural telecommunications carriers, identified as "rate-of-return carriers". Includes recommendations to the FCC supporting fraud risk management, regular assessments, and newly designed strategies. Appendix I identifies key elements of a fraud-risk management assessment process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Translational Science: Research with Results that Touch Rural Populations
Provides an overview of translational science and the role of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Discusses how NCATS is working to ensure rural communities benefit from translated science. Features a New York telehealth program addressing Parkinson Disease that is helping rural patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of translational science and the role of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Discusses how NCATS is working to ensure rural communities benefit from translated science. Features a New York telehealth program addressing Parkinson Disease that is helping rural patients.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science: Involving Rural America in Research
Features translational science teams in Arkansas, Florida, and Washington that are helping ensure new scientific findings are being used in rural communities to help patients. Discusses community engagement, the role of the electronic health record in data sharing, and collaboration with cooperative extension.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features translational science teams in Arkansas, Florida, and Washington that are helping ensure new scientific findings are being used in rural communities to help patients. Discusses community engagement, the role of the electronic health record in data sharing, and collaboration with cooperative extension.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Cost-effectiveness of a Statewide Public Health Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Highlights a study on the cost effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW)-based public health intervention to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in rural areas. Highlights an intervention that uses software to calculate risk scores and assist CHWs in making referrals and give support.
Author(s): Lauren Smith, Adam Atherly, Jon Campbell, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 19, 1234
Date: 09/2019
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Highlights a study on the cost effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW)-based public health intervention to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in rural areas. Highlights an intervention that uses software to calculate risk scores and assist CHWs in making referrals and give support.
Author(s): Lauren Smith, Adam Atherly, Jon Campbell, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 19, 1234
Date: 09/2019
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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
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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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
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Oversight Hearing on "GAO Report on Tribal Access to Spectrum: Promoting Communications Services in Indian Country"
Presents the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing on the need for accelerating deployment of high-speed cable internet to improve tribal access to broadband services specifically licensed spectrum. Features testimony from representatives from Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. Chairperson Belinda Nelson, and Chief Technology Director for Santa Fe Indian School Kimball Sekaquaptewa.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Presents the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing on the need for accelerating deployment of high-speed cable internet to improve tribal access to broadband services specifically licensed spectrum. Features testimony from representatives from Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. Chairperson Belinda Nelson, and Chief Technology Director for Santa Fe Indian School Kimball Sekaquaptewa.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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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
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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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
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Greater Good Podcasts Rural Health Segment, Part 1: How Did We Get Here? Rural Health Challenges in America
Set of three podcast episodes featuring Erika Ziller and Yvonne Jonk of the Maine Rural Health Research Center discussing current rural health issues and challenges, as well as historical factors related to the current rural health system. Addresses rural aging and long-term care, dental care, health insurance coverage, and health-related impacts of growing up in a rural community. Also compares rural health in Maine, other parts of the U.S., and rural communities in other countries.
Additional links: Part 2: Growing Up Rural, Part 3: Rural Health in Maine and America vs. the World
Author(s): Carrie Wilshusen, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center
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Set of three podcast episodes featuring Erika Ziller and Yvonne Jonk of the Maine Rural Health Research Center discussing current rural health issues and challenges, as well as historical factors related to the current rural health system. Addresses rural aging and long-term care, dental care, health insurance coverage, and health-related impacts of growing up in a rural community. Also compares rural health in Maine, other parts of the U.S., and rural communities in other countries.
Additional links: Part 2: Growing Up Rural, Part 3: Rural Health in Maine and America vs. the World
Author(s): Carrie Wilshusen, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center
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Indian Health Service Human-Centered Design
Examines the requirements of a next-generation health information technology (HIT) system at the Indian Health Services (IHS), including interoperability, electronic health records, and telehealth capabilities, among others. Presents service blueprints and use cases that can be field-tested and evaluated. Publication is free to access after providing an email address.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: &Partners, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Examines the requirements of a next-generation health information technology (HIT) system at the Indian Health Services (IHS), including interoperability, electronic health records, and telehealth capabilities, among others. Presents service blueprints and use cases that can be field-tested and evaluated. Publication is free to access after providing an email address.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: &Partners, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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