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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,
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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
- Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Planon April 23, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy) and the associated Federal Action Plan, a plan developed by 10 federal departments. The National Strategy offers recommendations for addressing needs for at-risk populations. Highlights suicide rate disparities for various race and ethnicities. Includes links to the National Strategy, the Federal Action Plan, and other resources for mental healthcare access and substance abuse services.
- Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortageon April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses recent research finding the shortage of primary care physicians is greater in rural areas. Includes analysis of findings by study authors, discussing rural-specific needs, Medicare reimbursement, and recruiting rural residents into healthcare.
- Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeedon April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes the role community health workers play in re-entry for recently incarcerated rural Utah residents. Discusses the role of addiction in incarceration and how the program is funded.
- Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.on April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Offers review of a new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding staffing minimums in nursing homes. The new standard is expected to require most nursing homes to increase staff. Discusses the rural-specific timeline for meeting the standard in addition to the impact on wages, workforce shortages, and Medicaid reimbursement.
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workerson April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces three rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services establishing national standards and increasing access to care. "Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes" aims to improve healthcare quality by setting minimum staffing standards for nursing staff, collecting and reporting on workforce compensation data, and offering incentives for the nurse workforce to work in nursing homes. The 2 remaining rules work together to establish national appointment wait time standards, address payment transparency, and create payment standards for workers providing home and community based services.
- Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Accesson April 18, 2024 at 5:00 am
Highlights a program in a rural Nebraska school addressing access to food in the community. A partnership between the school and the village offers a non-profit grocery store that is run by the students and managed by the business teacher.
- Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Careon April 15, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses the social and economic factors contributing to early mortality for Native Americans. Highlights community health workers, food insecurity, generational trauma, and interventions attempting to reduce disparities.
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Riseon April 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses population trends for Amish communities based on the need for land and healthcare. Notes that some rare genetic diseases are present in Amish populations and discusses healthcare access challenges related to insurance status and transportation. Highlights an Ohio clinic primarily treating Amish patients.
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settingson April 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses the need for mental health services in schools and how states around the country have used Medicaid reimbursement to fund those services. Notes recent policy changes that have made this possible and highlights challenges that remain in using Medicaid reimbursement, particularly for rural school districts.
- Promotoras Play Essential Role in Connecting Farmworkers with Health Care in Rural NorCalon April 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Highlights the work of promotoras in rural Northern California including assisting eligible residents with enrolling in Medicaid. Discusses the impact of Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs) on healthcare access, policy, and insurance access for undocumented farmworkers.
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
- Accountable Health Communities Modelon April 25, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Provides information on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center's Accountable Health Communities Model, which tested whether systematically identifying and addressing the health-related social needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries through screening, referral, and community navigation services would impact healthcare costs and reduce healthcare utilization. Aimed to link beneficiaries with community services that may address their health-related social needs. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Rural-Urban Disparities in the Availability of Hospital-Based Screening, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, and Addiction Consult Serviceson April 25, 2024 at 2:00 pm
Compares availability of opioid use disorder screening, medication, and addiction consult services in hospitals by level of rurality. Utilizes data from the 2021 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals. Discusses access barriers to opioid use disorder services in rural areas.
- Geographic Variation and Racial Disparities in Adoption of Newer Glucose-Lowering Drugs with Cardiovascular Benefits among US Medicare...on April 24, 2024 at 10:25 pm
Analyzes the use of glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) among people with type 2 diabetes, utilizing 2017-2018 Medicare Part D beneficiary claims data. Identifies rural-urban and racial disparities in GLD initiation rates, and discusses factors influencing equitable access to cardiovascular treatment.
- SBA's Rural Activitieson April 24, 2024 at 9:54 pm
Describes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs targeting rural small businesses. Discusses how SBA coordinates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on rural small business issues, the history of the SBA Office of Rural Affairs, and considerations for Congress. -- Congressional Research Service
- USDA Rural Utilities Service's Support for Tribes and Other Indigenous Entitieson April 24, 2024 at 9:34 pm
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) programs that help offset the costs of building and repairing utility systems in rural areas. Describes the types of tribal and other Indigenous entities eligible to apply for RUS programs. Highlights two USDA Rural Development authorities that can help tribes and other Indigenous entities access RUS programs. Outlines issues Congress may consider if it chooses to constrict, maintain, or expand the laws governing these programs. -- Congressional Research Service
- Wisconsin Rural Partners Eventson April 24, 2024 at 9:16 pm
A list of upcoming and past events, such as small community forums, development initiatives, and more. -- Wisconsin Rural Partners
- Disparities in Maternal Health Visits Between Rural and Urban Communities in the United States, 2016–2018on April 24, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Analyzes data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System between 2016 and 2018 to compare rural and urban differences in prepregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum healthcare access and quality for 103,425 patients in 40 states, New York City, and Puerto Rico. Includes a rural and urban break down of patient demographics, insurance status, and chronic conditions. Discusses the role telehealth may play in closing gaps in care.
- "Economic Development is Population Health": A New Vision for Rural Hospital Leadershipon April 24, 2024 at 6:08 pm
Describes the role that rural hospital investments can play in contributing to community health. Features a Wisconsin Critical Access Hospital making infrastructure investments in their downtown and a New Hampshire medical center investing in public transit and affordable housing. -- Rural Health Information Hub
- Wisconsin Equitable Program Development Dashboardon April 24, 2024 at 4:50 pm
An interactive data map of Wisconsin that provides information on socioeconomic factors and community-based assets. Includes census tract, county subdivision, and block group-level data on the social determinants of health, such as education, income, housing, race/ethnicity, language, location of hospitals, and location of retailers accepting FoodShare. -- University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
- Wisconsin Food Security Projecton April 24, 2024 at 4:42 pm
A set of tools that provides information about food security and poverty in Wisconsin, including maps; county, municipal, or school district profiles; and custom charts. -- Applied Population Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension