- Distance, Workforce Shortages Complicate Mental Health Access in Rural Nevada Communities
- Bird Flu Is Racing Through Farms, but Northwest States Are Rarely Testing Workers
- After Helene, Clinician Teams Brought Critical Care To Isolated WNC Communities
- The Biden-Harris Administration Supports Rural Health Care
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $52 Million Investment for Health Centers to Provide Care for People Reentering the Community after Incarceration
- On National Rural Health Day, Reps. Sewell and Miller Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Rural Hospitals
- Terri Sewell Cosponsors Bill Reauthoring Program to Support Rural Hospitals
- HRSA: Inclusion of Terrain Factors in the Definition of Rural Area for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Grants
- DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- Celebrating National Rural Health Day
- Public Inspection: DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- CDC Presents a Five-Year Plan for Rural Healthcare
- Talking Rural Health Care with U of M
- Kansas Faith Leaders 'Well Positioned' To Help Fill Mental Health Care Gaps in Rural Areas
- The CDC Wants More Kansas Farm Workers to Get Their Flu Shots This Season
Public Health Response to the Initiation and Spread of Pandemic COVID-19 in the United States, February 24–April 21, 2020
This report identifies factors that contributed to the spread of COVID-19 in early 2020. It discusses transmission due to travel, large gatherings (including a funeral in rural Georgia), high-risk workplaces such as rural meatpacking facilities, densely populated areas, and unrecognized transmission related to limited testing and asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread. Read more here.
Physician Support Line
Free and confidential peer support for physicians to discuss immediate life stressors with volunteer psychiatrist colleagues. Available 7 days a week from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM EST.
1-888-409-0141
OCR Update on HIPAA and COVID-19
This video provides a recording of an April 24, 2020, webinar on HIPAA privacy and health information technology security issues related to COVID-19. It discusses several U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights actions during the pandemic, including notifications of enforcement discretion and guidance for telehealth remote communications, first responders and public health authorities, and other stakeholders. Find the video here.
How will the COVID-19 Recession Impact People with Disabilities in Rural America?
This fact sheet discusses ways in which rural people with disabilities are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 recession. It analyzes data from the 2015 and 2016 Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making and the American Time Use Survey 2017-18 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. It features statistics on numbers of people with disabilities who have emergency funds, paid sick leave, and jobs that can be done from home, with breakdowns by rural or metropolitan location. Read more here.
COVID-19: Protecting Your Vulnerable Patients with Proactive Outreach
This article discusses ways to protect at-risk patients with proactive outreach during the pandemic. It emphasizes the importance of active outreach and ways to engage patients in new care options, and it examines special circumstances concerning telehealth and annual wellness visits. Read more here.
COVID-19 in Rural America – Is There Cause for Concern?
This issue brief compares the incidence of COVID-19 cases and deaths in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties in the United States. It features statistics including numbers of cases and deaths in the top 5 metro and nonmetro counties as of April 27, 2020, and average COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 people and rates of increase in deaths, with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro counties. Read more here.
COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities ― 19 States, April 2020
This report examines COVID-19 cases among workers in 115 meat and poultry processing facilities reported by 19 states. It discusses factors potentially affecting risk for infection, including difficulties with workplace physical distancing and hygiene and crowded living and transportation conditions. It also includes recommended changes to address these issues. Read more here.
Childhood Obesity Resources Related to COVID-19
This resource provides a collection of resources to help prevent childhood weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes links to fact sheets and programs for parents and teachers, nutrition guidance for practitioners, and modules and webinars for graduate students and faculty engaging in virtual learning and teaching. Read more here.
Request for Information (RFI): Guidance on Current Clinical Experience in Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Settings
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is seeking input from primary care providers with clinical experience in screening for suicide risk to better understand the opportunities and barriers regarding efforts to care for individuals with suicide risk. Potential topics to address include suicide risk assessment, interventions, the use of telehealth for consultations, efforts to provide follow-up care, as well as adjustments practices have made during the coronavirus crisis. Find more information here.
Information on Mental Health Awareness Month – for PBS Story-Sharing Platform
PBS American Portrait is requesting 20-60 second video submissions from Americans telling stories related to Mental Health Awareness Month 2020. It includes a list of 16 prompts to choose from, encouraging mental health professionals, those who are dealing with or have overcome mental health concerns, and rural stakeholders to participate. Find more information here.