Rural Chronic Disease Management Toolkit

Welcome to the Rural Chronic Disease Management Toolkit. The toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support the implementation of chronic disease management programs in rural communities across the United States.

The modules in this toolkit contain resources and information focused on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural programs for the management of chronic disease. For information about rural programs for the prevention of chronic disease, see our Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Toolkit.

This toolkit highlights evidence-based and promising approaches for managing a wide range of chronic diseases. Several leading chronic diseases that affect rural populations may benefit from these approaches, including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, cancer, obesity, and chronic pain. The strategies included in this toolkit do not specifically address all chronic diseases.

More resources for addressing the social determinants of health and their impact on chronic disease management in rural areas are available in our Social Determinants of Health in Rural Communities Toolkit. Additional resources on general community health strategies are available in our Rural Community Health Toolkit.

Module 1: Introduction
Overview of and need for chronic disease management in rural communities in the U.S.

Module 2: Program Models
Models for chronic disease management programs.

Module 3: Program Clearinghouse
Examples of promising chronic disease management programs that have been implemented in rural communities.

Module 4: Implementation
Important issues to consider and address when implementing a rural chronic disease management program.

Module 5: Evaluation
Tools that can help with evaluating a chronic disease management program.

Module 6: Funding & Sustainability
Resources to help with planning for the sustainability of chronic disease management programs.

Module 7: Dissemination
Ideas and resources for disseminating findings from chronic disease management programs.