Our Participating Programs and Sponsors
Registration is open for our 2024 Scholarly Intensive Seminar Series! Click HERE for more information!
The RTT Collaborative is excited to announce that we are hiring a part-time Associate Director!
More information can be found here: Associate-Director-open-position.pdf (185.78 KB pdf) !
Featured News Story
Annual Rural Photo Contest
The Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly RTT Collaborative) invites you to participate in our annual rural photo contest. Each year we hold a “bragging rights” competition for the shutter bugs associated with our organization to showcase their best photos that represent rural healthcare and training. The deadline for submission is the end of April, but this year, for the first time ever, all entries that are submitted prior to the start of our annual meeting on April 10th, will be featured at the meeting and eligible to win the new “Rural Educators” award, to be selected by the attendees at the annual meeting in Asheville,
Read More
RHIhub – The nation’s rural health library
Latest News
News stories via the Rural Health Information Hub News stories of interest to rural health, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub
- Rural Victims of Intimate-Partner Violence Need More Resources and Support, Study Findson May 14, 2024 at 5:00 am
A study conducted by the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found that rural victims of intimate-partner violence face barriers and resource limitations that could affect their health and well-being. Results were based on interviews with representatives of 15 state and national advocacy organizations.
- Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Investments in Rural America, Invites Public Nominations for Rural Innovators...on May 14, 2024 at 5:00 am
The Biden-Harris Administration announces a new Rural Innovators Initiative to highlight stories of extraordinary rural leaders who are ensuring their communities thrive for generations to come. Nominations close on Friday, June 14 at midnight EDT. The administration also announces over $671 million in new investments to strengthen rural infrastructure, by improving access to reliable electricity and clean drinking water, and creating good-paying jobs in rural communities.
- A Tribe in Maine Is Using Opioid Settlement Funds on a Sweat Lodge to Treat Addictionon May 12, 2024 at 5:00 am
Reports on the 2,000-member Mi'kmaq Nation's efforts to use sweat lodges as a cultural element to complement addiction counseling and medications already provided by the tribe's health department. The project was partially funded by pharmaceutical companies that were accused of exacerbating the overdose crisis among Native Americans.
- Call for Experts: Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independenceon May 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Call for volunteer experts in geriatrics, nursing, aging policy, disability policy, or workforce and caregiving to serve on the Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Nominations are due May 31st.
- Fact Sheet: USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1on May 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes steps taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help reduce the impact of H5N1 on bovines and humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are increasing screening and testing capacity, genomic sequencing, and other interventions to protect the safety of dairy and other food items.
- Bill to Expand Definition of 'Village' Qualifying for Water Funds Passes Alaska Houseon May 9, 2024 at 5:00 am
Reports on recent legislation to expand the definition of "village" in Alaska in an effort to increase eligibility for infrastructure funding for small communities. Notes how rural is defined, the potential for increased competition for funds, and the need to include rural partners in the discussion.
- Few Options Available for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Big Bendon May 8, 2024 at 5:00 am
Explores complex barriers to substance abuse treatment for residents of rural west Texas. Discusses challenges faced by law enforcement and the court system due to a shortage of local recovery resources.
- Child Care Workers Caught in Middle of Michigan's Broken Child Care Systemon May 8, 2024 at 5:00 am
Provides overview of childcare shortages across Michigan and highlights the experiences of rural child care providers. Notes that the most severe shortages are concentrated in rural northern Michigan. Examines challenges related to the current public subsidy system and ongoing workforce shortages.
- In Rural Texas, ERs Are Facing a Growing Mental Health Crisison May 7, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses mental healthcare access in rural Texas where 60% of counties are Mental Health Care Health Professional Shortage Areas. Describes the strain on emergency rooms and other facilities in or near these shortage areas as well as the impact on patients. Discusses the role of telehealth in increasing access to mental healthcare.
- Ways and Means Members Put Forth Solutions to Strengthen Telehealth Access and Improve Health Care for Rural Communitieson May 7, 2024 at 5:00 am
Provides an overview of new legislation aimed at improving healthcare access, with a focus on rural and underserved areas. Details six bills addressing a range of issues including telehealth access, rural hospital stabilization, and healthcare workforce shortages.
Helpful Resources
Rural resources via the Rural Health Information Hub Resources, reports, and other documents on rural health topics from a variety of sources, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub
- Oklahoma Cancer Prevention & Control Plan 2023-2028: Cancer is Not OK!on May 17, 2024 at 9:40 pm
Outlines goals and strategies to prevent cancer, reduce deaths, and increase quality of life among people living with cancer in Oklahoma. Includes data and recommendations related to prevention, screening, survivorship, and population health. See pages 60-61 for discussion of cancer disparities and access barriers in rural areas. -- Oklahoma Comprehensive Cancer Network (OCCN), Oklahoma State Department of Health
- Can ERAS Help Reduce Health Disparities and Overcome Barriers to Equitable Surgical Care in Marginalized Communities?on May 17, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Discusses the value of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols in rural and marginalized communities. Identifies barriers to access and proposes strategies to increase equity. Highlights aspects of ERAS implementation including pediatrics, health literacy, communication with patients and among providers, telehealth, and more.
- State Innovations to Advance Respite Care: Policy Strategies Shared at the State-Federal Respite Summiton May 17, 2024 at 8:16 pm
Presents strategies utilized by states to improve access to and quality of respite care services for family caregivers. Strategies cover awareness and outreach, respite workforce education, and serving diverse populations. Highlights strategies from Colorado, North Dakota, and Oklahoma focused on rural areas. -- National Academy for State Health Policy
- How Ohio Public Library Systems Respond to Opioid-Related Substance Use: A Descriptive Analysis of Survey Resultson May 17, 2024 at 8:06 pm
Reports on measures to deter substance use and prevent overdose in 56 Ohio public library systems, with comparisons of rural, town, suburban, and city library systems. Includes data on evidence of opioid use, response measures, and capacity to respond to opioid use.
- Regional and Rural-urban Patterns in the Prevalence of Diagnosed Hypertension among Older U.S. Adults with Diabetes, 2005–2017on May 17, 2024 at 7:27 pm
Explores trends in the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes across four geographic regions between 2005 and 2017. Examines Medicare administrative claims data to describe sociodemographic characteristics of the sampled beneficiaries with diabetes. Uses the 2013 CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) classification scheme to compare the age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension in each region over time by rurality.
- Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabiliationon May 17, 2024 at 4:29 pm
Highlights a model for delivering home-based pulmonary rehabilitation care for older rural veterans. Presents challenges facing rural veterans with pulmonary diseases, such as COPD, and explores methods for at-home rehabilitation via a 12-week treatment plan. -- Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
- Examining the Dental Care Crisis in America: How Can We Make Dental Care More Affordable and More Available?on May 17, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Recording of a May 16, 2024, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing on the accessibility and affordability of dental care, including in rural areas. Features testimony from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. -- Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
- Veterans Health Administration Interdisciplinary Clinical Video-Telehealth for Geriatrics and Dementiaon May 17, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Highlights a model for delivering interdisciplinary clinical care via video-based telehealth for geriatric rural veterans with dementia. Presents methods for overcoming geographic barriers to provide dementia care for rural veterans with a team of professionals such as social workers, pharmacists, and geriatricians via remote consultations with rural providers. -- Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
- Rural Comprehensive Cancer Care: Qualitative Analysis of Current Challenges and Opportunitieson May 17, 2024 at 4:20 pm
Highlights a study aiming to understand the challenges in providing comprehensive cancer care in rural hospitals from the prospective of rural providers. Bases finding on interviews with 13 practitioners providing cancer care in rural hospitals in Iowa. Identifies strengths and barriers to providing cancer care in rural hospitals.
- Calculation of Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings With and Without Inclusion of the Peer Grouping Stepon May 17, 2024 at 3:55 pm
Examines potential implications of including a peer grouping step in the calculation of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Star Ratings. Uses January 2023 Medicare Care Compare data on 3,076 hospitals that received a star rating to calculate the peer groups based on the number of quality measure groups for which hospitals had 3 or more reported measures. Presents data on the characteristics of each peer group, the distribution of star ratings whether the peer grouping step was used or not used, and the number of hospitals with a higher, lower, or identical star rating when the peer grouping step was applied. Compares data by hospital characteristics, including safety-net status, Critical Access Hospital status, rural or urban location, and more.