November 6, 2024
From the 2036 physician supply predictions: 6% shortage in urban, but 56% in rural. With supply influenced by 100 years of attitudes, health policies, and federal funding, this historical review leads up to the recent decades of new federal funding and policies that experts said will be changing this geographic maldistribution of physicians.
October 23, 2024
Maternal deaths have increased in the U.S., with half of those deaths occurring in the year after childbirth. In many rural communities, accessing necessary postpartum care has become increasingly difficult.
October 2, 2024
Rural people with disabilities face barriers to healthcare, such as transportation, inaccessible buildings, and providers' lack of experience or confidence treating this patient population. Experts, including a public health department in Montana and a disability and health program in New Hampshire, discuss these barriers and ways to improve accessibility and communication with patients with disabilities.
July 24, 2024
For decades, community health workers (CHWs) provided their services outside usual healthcare reimbursement models. In recent years, with research supporting CHWs as professionals effectively assisting patients with navigating health-related social determinants, federal and private payers are exploring reimbursement mechanisms. Four rural healthcare organizations share both the impact and the continued sustainability challenges — and successes — of their CHW programs.
July 10, 2024
Timely interventions and support can be life-changing for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, but are often inaccessible in rural communities.
March 13, 2024
Studies find that rural people have higher rates of hearing loss than urban people but face significant barriers to care. Experts from a hearing clinic in South Dakota, a telehealth program in Alaska, and a nationally available agriculture safety program discuss these barriers, ways to improve access to hearing care, and the importance of hearing conservation.
November 29, 2023
Old Dominion University's new mobile clinic is bridging care gaps in underserved communities while providing clinical opportunities to nursing students.
October 18, 2023
In addition to higher rates of some mental and physical health conditions, LGBTQ+ people in rural areas may also perceive discrimination or lack of understanding when accessing healthcare. Programs in Idaho and Virginia share how they're helping rural healthcare facilities provide better care.
September 6, 2023
In rural communities, where funding is often limited and mental health resources may be scarce, ensuring incarcerated people have access to needed care can be a challenge.
