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Rural Health Information Hub

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

Using Technology to Deliver Healthcare Education to Rural Patients
Describes how the Internet can help rural health facilities get access to current health education materials for their patients.
Author(s): Carol McIlhenny, Brenda Guzic, Dawna Knee, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 11(4), 1798
Date: 10/2011
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Bringing Broadband to Rural America: Update to Report on a Rural Broadband Strategy
Update to the 2009 Rural Broadband Report describing broadband deployment and adoption in rural areas. Discusses telecommunications needs of rural healthcare providers.
Date: 06/2011
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Continuing Education, Professional Development, and Lifelong Learning for the 21st Century Health Care Workforce
11th Annual Report to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Congress of the United States. Focuses on continuing education for health professionals. Discusses video or web conferencing for providing continuing education to rural providers.
Date: 2011
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary Community-Based Linkages
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Experiences of Rural Non-VA Providers in Treating Dual Care Veterans and the Development of Electronic Health Information Exchange Networks Between the Two Systems
Reports on the experiences of non-VA (Veterans Administration) rural primary care providers treating veterans receiving care from both VA and non-VA providers. Highlights case studies where electronic health information exchange (HIE) networks improved communication between VA and non-VA health care providers.
Author(s): Michelle A. Lampman, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 26(3), 201-219
Date: 2011
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Telecommunications: FCC's Performance Management Weaknesses Could Jeopardize Proposed Reforms of the Rural Health Care Program
Evaluates the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) management of the Rural Health Care Program. Focuses on how well the program is addressing the needs of rural healthcare providers, the impact of the FCC's pilot program design and implementation, and the FCC's performance goals and measures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2010
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Understanding the Impact of Health IT in Underserved Communities and those with Health Disparities
Focuses on how the integration of different types of information technology into healthcare delivery may influence processes and outcomes related to the overall health of residents in underserved and rural communities.
Date: 10/2010
Sponsoring organization: NORC at the University of Chicago
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Electronic Medical Record Systems in Critical Access Hospitals: Leadership Perspectives on Anticipated and Realized Benefits
Examines the efficacy of electronic medical records (EMRs) in reducing healthcare costs while also improving performance and quality in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Also discusses the reasons CAH leadership may choose to implement an EMR, and whether anticipated benefits have generally been realized. Results are based on a survey of leadership from 15 Iowa-based CAHs.
Author(s): Troy R. Mills, Jared Vavroch, James A. Bahensky, Marcia M. Ward
Citation: Perspectives in Health Information Management, 7, 1c
Date: 04/2010
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Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan
Includes the executive summary and full text of the National Broadband Plan, which began taking form in April 2009 and was finalized in March 2010. The plan makes recommendations to the FCC, the Executive Branch, Congress and state and local governments. Chapter 10 focuses on healthcare, and includes some information specific to rural health care facilities.
Date: 03/2010
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Critical Access Hospitals and Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology
Assesses the availability of health information technology (HIT) applications that are preconditions for meaningful use in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), compared to other U.S. hospitals in 2008.
Author(s): Jeffrey McCullough, Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice
Date: 02/2010
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services Meeting Minutes, Washington, D.C. February 17-19, 2010
Summarizes a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. Topics addressed include: an update from HRSA director Mary Wakefield, the 2010 Report to the Secretary, committee discussion, issues facing the rural elderly, key issues in rural health and human services, and health information technology (HIT) meaningful use.
Date: 2010
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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