In-depth stories examining key rural health issues.
April 24, 2024
A growing number of rural hospital leaders are beginning to view their infrastructure, purchasing, and investment strategies as crucial extensions of their efforts to improve community health — and, in the long term, bolster their bottom line.
April 10, 2024
While an estimated 20% of Americans live in rural areas, 40% of traffic deaths occur on rural roads.
March 27, 2024
Strategic collaboration allows rural organizations to combine resources and expertise to improve care and patient outcomes. Southern Illinois Healthcare, the Iowa Primary Care Association, and Minnesota's Winona Community HUB share how strategic collaboration has helped them conduct community health needs assessments, provide technical assistance to community health centers, connect patients to food and housing, and much more.
March 13, 2024
Studies find that rural people have higher rates of hearing loss than urban people but face significant barriers to care. Experts from a hearing clinic in South Dakota, a telehealth program in Alaska, and a nationally available agriculture safety program discuss these barriers, ways to improve access to hearing care, and the importance of hearing conservation.
February 7, 2024
Hoarding disorder can lead to serious health risks and a hazardous home environment, with older adults especially vulnerable – but in rural places, diagnosing and treating the condition can be a challenge.
January 24, 2024
Produce prescription programs have gained popularity in recent years as a model for addressing food insecurity and diet-related disease. While such programs are still uncommon in rural areas, those that do exist report wide-ranging impacts on participants and local food systems.
December 13, 2023
As the pandemic receded, many rural healthcare providers began to feel the acute effects of another crisis impacting communities across the country: a severe local housing shortage. In response, some organizations are forming unique partnerships and implementing creative solutions.
November 1, 2023
With free and confidential live chat, text, phone, and email services, new mothers can get quick answers to questions about potentially dangerous exposures.
October 18, 2023
In addition to higher rates of some mental and physical health conditions, LGBTQ+ people in rural areas may also perceive discrimination or lack of understanding when accessing healthcare. Programs in Idaho and Virginia share how they're helping rural healthcare facilities provide better care.
October 4, 2023
Rural hospitals are becoming increasingly vulnerable to attempts to penetrate information systems to create havoc, steal data, or hold information "hostage" for a monetary ransom. Two Critical Access Hospital leaders discuss attacks at their organizations and how they are working to prevent future attacks. An information technology compliance expert also highlights actions organizations can take to better protect themselves from cyber-attacks.
