Rural Health
Rural Hospitals, Short of Staff, Brace for Omicron
https://www.marketplace.org/2021/12/28/rural-hospitals-short-of-staff-brace-for-omicron/ By Savannah Maher Dec 28, 2021 Heard on: Hospitals in the U.S. are struggling to stay staffed up. Many were short of workers even before the pandemic caused an exodus of doctors and nurses from the field. Now, the more transmissible omicron variant is sending some of the remaining workers home, and hospitals are running out of backup plans — particularly in rural areas. Vermont was already in dire need of health care workers, even before the pandemic drove many into early retirement and other careers, according to Jeff Tieman with the Vermont Association of Hospitals. “Our workforce is shrinking and stressed, you know, at a time when we need it to be growing and resilient,” he said. In New Mexico, more...
Some Digital Divides Persist Between Rural, Urban and Suburban America
PEW RESEARCH TRUST AUGUST 19, 2021 BY EMILY A. VOGELS Rural Americans have made large gains in adopting digital technology over the past decade and have narrowed some digital gaps. However, rural adults remain less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet computer or traditional computer. Read more
HOW NEW YORK STATE CAN PRESERVE RURAL ACCESS TO EMS
In order to preserve rural communities’ access to emergency medical services, New York State government must act now. Due to inadequate reimbursement from Medicaid causing strained budgets, minimal provided incentive for volunteers, and lack of utilization of EMS capabilities, rural ambulance agencies are at risk of closing down or consolidating with other agencies. Fewer ambulance agencies will only increase response and wait time for emergency medical situations, putting rural New Yorkers at an even higher risk of serious medical complications. To amend this crisis, New York State can increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for EMS, increase incentive for volunteerism by providing SUNY scholarships for volunteers and/or their children, and initiate community paramedicine programs in rur...
NYSARH Administered Legislative Appropriation
NYSARH was selected to administer $1.1 million for Rural Health Care Access Development and Rural Health Network Development programs included in the 2019-20 NYS budget. We are pleased to announce that this project has been successfully completed having overcome several challenges. A survey of 2019 financials demonstrated that for every $1 of NYS RHN funding, the RHNs were able to secure $2.93 of funding from other sources. Rural Access Hospital Development Program The purposes of the funding are to allow small rural hospitals to: Strengthen infrastructure or capacity, Improve and/or sustain rural critical access hospital activities, Plan or implement diversification of underutilized acute care beds, Plan or implement projects that diversify hospital services, Plan or implement activities...
NYSARH in Action: NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington
The NYSARH delegation joined over 450 fellow rural health stakeholders from across the United States in Washington, D.C. for NRHA’s 30th Rural Health Policy Institute. The NYSARH team met with Representatives Brindisi, Collins, Delgado, and Katko in person and with staff representing Representatives Higgins, Maloney, Morelle, Reed, Stefanik, and Tonko, and with staff representing Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. We shared packets with staff from Representatives Lowey, Ocasio-Cortez, and Rose. If you use Twitter, please follow @NRHA_Advocacy and NRHA on Twitter and include #RuralHealth in all your tweets to keep the issues NRHA fights for at the forefront of the national conversation with colleagues and representatives.
NYSARH in Action: Rural Health Advocacy in Albany
The NYSARH Policy Committee organized Advocacy Day earlier in the season than we have in previous years. Volunteers met with 19 Committee Chairs and leadership staff including Speaker Heastie, Minority Leader Kolb, Chair of Senate Health Gustavo Rivera, and Chair of Assembly Health Dick Gottfried. We appreciate the warm welcome we received from Senators Rachel May, Chair, and Pamela Helming, Ranking Member, Legislative Commission on Rural Resources. Thanks to our panel of speakers who presented the morning briefing: Jill Kasow, Legislative Commission of Rural Resources Karen Roach & Jim Clancy, Healthcare Association of NYS Lacey Clarke, Community Health Care Association of NYS Glenn Liebman, Mental Health Association of NYS Harvey Rosenthal, NY Association Psychiatric Rehabilitation ...
Rural Networks Making a Difference in the Opioid Epidemic
We didn’t want to miss sharing this webinar, recorded on National Rural Health Day, which features Karen Madden of the New York State Office of Rural Health, Rebecca Evansky, AHI, and Charlotte Crawford, Lake Plains Community Care Network. The recording showcases how small rural networks are innovating and collaborating with their communities to address the opioid crisis. Hit play to watch it below or click here for direct access.
NYSARH Research Project: Impact of NYS Funding
Casey Edwards conducted an important research project for NYSARH designed to inform and educate decision-makers regarding NYS funding to public health programs which have a direct and significant impact on: Health of people in rural communities Economic health of those communities Social determinants of health Edwards focus during her research was tri-fold–1.) identify and understand the purpose of key New York State health-related funding streams within selected rural communities, 2.) understand and identify the discrete categories of direct, indirect, and induced economic impact of outside funding by looking at selected health and social entities, and 3.) identify and discuss the economic impact of cuts in funding on rural infrastructure and communities, through the use of IMPLAN w...
2018 New York State Rural Health Award Recipients
The 2018 Annual NYSARH Conference, held at Greek Peak September 26th-28th, recognized Dr. Robert Delorme, Dr. Zsuzsa Meszaros of the Rural Academic Partnership, and Karen Madden for their dedication and service to their communities. Once again, we congratulate our 2018 award winners for all of their efforts in raising awareness of rural health issues and for providing excellent rural health programming in New York State. (From left to right, Dr. Robert Delorme, Dr. Zsuzsa Meszaros, and Karen Madden) Dr. Gary Ogden Rural Health Practitioner of the Year Award – Dr. Delorme The New York State Association for Rural Health is pleased to recognize Robert Delorme, MD for his health leadership in Southern Madison and Northern Chenango Counties with the Dr. Gary Ogden Rural Health Practitione...