Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

The Rural Monitor
Articles by Topic: Policy

Using Telehealth to Put Patients at the Center of Healthcare

July 26, 2017
Mario Gutierrez, MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy's National Telehealth Policy Resource Center, discusses the important role telehealth plays for rural patients in delivering healthcare directly to their homes and communities.

Recognizing Telehealth's Full Potential

July 26, 2017
Kristi Henderson, DNP, CFNP, CACNP, FAEN, Vice President of Innovation and Virtual Care at Ascension's Texas Ministry, outlines three challenges hindering telehealth's growth: outdated reimbursement models, policies and regulations, and the complexity surrounding telehealth integration.

Freestanding Emergency Departments: An Alternative Model for Rural Communities

November 30, 2016
First conceptualized in the 1970s, but not widely adopted in rural communities, freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) have been getting another look as a sustainable rural option. This article discusses hospital-based versus independent FSEDs, the model's financial viability, and highlights two FSEDs meeting their communities' healthcare needs in Arizona and Illinois.

EMS Leaders Speak

September 7, 2016
With the recent changes in healthcare delivery, many rural clinics and hospitals are concerned about the future of their communities' healthcare, especially their emergency medical services. Will EMS in rural areas survive these changes, and is there an opportunity to thrive in a volume-to-value system? We asked five rural EMS leaders to explore the possible challenges and opportunities in the transformation of rural healthcare delivery.

Expecting More Services for Less Compensation

September 7, 2016
Diane Calmus, Government Affairs and Policy Manager at the National Rural Health Association, explores the need for a new hospital model to help rural communities gain and maintain access to emergency medical services.

An Interview with Ajit Pai

October 28, 2015
Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai discusses the critical need to expand broadband deployment in rural communities and the promise that broadband holds for rural healthcare.