May 30, 2018
Super-utilizers are those patients who are hospitalized multiple times each year and, due to circumstances outside their control, are unable to make the changes needed to keep them out of the ER. Three rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are working on reducing these readmissions and improving their super-utilizers' health.
May 16, 2018
Across the country, recruitment and retention challenges are common for rural healthcare entities providing post-acute care. Healthcare leaders share practical examples that have created incentive for staff to join, and stay on, their healthcare teams.
May 2, 2018
Post-acute care (PAC) services available locally can make fully recovering from a serious illness or injury faster and easier, setting the patient and provider up for the best possible outcome. This article looks at how a tertiary facility's communication with skilled nursing facilities, a Critical Access Hospital's swing bed program, and a home health agency are improving patient transitions from acute care to PAC.
April 18, 2018
Two healthcare organizations demonstrate how the social determinants of health and social risk assessment can be used as a framework for transforming a rural "health delivery system to a true health system."
April 4, 2018
Charles D. Cook Office of Rural Health Director Karen Madden shares how New York State's rural health organizations work together and describes her work and collaborations at the national level to promote rural health.
March 21, 2018
An important aspect of the opioid crisis is opioid use disorder. This in-depth story focuses on the science behind the disorder and the use of an evidence-based treatment: MAT, or medication-assisted treatment.
March 21, 2018
MAT, or medication-assisted treatment, is understood as a whole-patient treatment for opioid use disorder, considered a chronic disease. Four MAT medications work differently and help each patient's unique needs.
March 21, 2018
Understanding the opioid problem begins with understanding the science behind pain and how opioids relieve pain. It's also important to understand individuals who might be more at risk of developing opioid use disorder.
March 7, 2018
How do you attract dental students into practice in rural and underserved areas? With 70% of RIDE graduates practicing in those targeted areas, University of Washington School of Dentistry's RIDE faculty, a preceptor, graduate, and current student share how it's done and why it works.
February 21, 2018
Miners in rural New Mexico may forego care when they have to drive a long distance to see a primary care provider or specialist. The New Mexico Mobile Screening Program for Miners travels to 12 locations in the state to bring needed care to patients.