HHS announces $10.4 million to enhance rural health care
May 2, 2012 (HRSA News Release) - Rural health providers across the nation will receive more than $10.4 million to provide direct health care services to their communities. The funding announced today by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will be used to meet a broad range of health care needs in rural areas, from health promotion and disease prevention to expanding oral and mental health services.
“Access to quality and affordable health care should not be determined by where you live,” said Secretary Sebelius. “These grants are a continuation of our effort to ensure that rural providers are able to meet the needs of their communities.”
Each of 70 grantees will receive approximately $450,000 over a 3-year project period to address the needs of a wide range of population groups including, but not limited to, low-income families and individuals, the elderly, pregnant women, infants, adolescents, minorities and individuals with special health care needs. Funding is distributed through HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the primary federal agency for improving health care access for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.
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Telehealth brings the virtual classroom to rural providers
by Gienna Shaw
May 7, 2012 (FierceHealthIT) - New research shows a telehealth network is an effective way to conduct certification courses in chemotherapy biotherapy to oncology nurses living in rural areas--but most say they'd rather do their training in-person.
In Kansas, certified chemotherapy/biotherapy trainers are only available in metropolitan areas, according to Oncology Nurse Advisor. To meet the growing demand for chemotherapy certified nurses, The Midwest Cancer Alliance, The University of Kansas Cancer Center, and The University of Kansas Center for Telemedicine and Telehealth partnered to deliver a chemotherapy/biotherapy training course using interactive tele-videoconferencing.
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Finding the broadband pipes for rural telemedicine
by Don Fluckinger
May 4, 2012 (SearchHealthIT) - At this year's American Telemedicine Association's annual meeting, many new topics governed the conversation, such as how remote patient care via live video streams will fit into accountable care organizations and their patient-centered medical homes. But an old topic -- getting rural telemedicine practitioners access to broadband pipes that will support this mode of care -- lingers on.
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Data: Small Hospitals Slow to Adopt EHRs by Marty Stempniak
May 4, 2012 (Hospitals & Health Networks) - Hospitals increasingly are using electronic health records to improve health care. But smaller, rural or nonteaching hospitals are trailing the big boys, and the gap is growing larger, according to a recent study published in Health Affairs and co-authored by the American Hospital Association.
The AHA analyzed national survey data on U.S. hospitals from 2011, when federal incentives started to kick in for the meaningful use of electronic health records. They found that the number of providers using EHR systems increased from 15.1 percent in 2010 to 26.6 percent last year.
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Secretary Sebelius Statement in Honor of National Nurses Week 2012
May 4, 2012 (HHS News Release) -During National Nurses Week, we recognize the tremendous contributions that nurses make to keeping America healthy. As passionate advocates, leaders and innovators for better health, America’s nurses have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the public’s health care needs.
The health initiatives called for by the new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, would not be possible without our nation’s nurses. By expanding investments in primary and preventive care programs in which nurses play a vital role, the Affordable Care Act strengthens the focus on keeping people healthy and managing chronic conditions. Through the law and other efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services is working to ensure that nurses get the support and training they deserve and need to do their job.
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More Doctors on the Way, Higher Costs to Follow by Merrill Boozner
May 4, 2012 (The Fiscal Times) - A major expansion is underway at the nation’s medical schools that will sharply increase the number of new physicians entering the workforce over the next decade to care for an aging baby boom generation. But critics say the move could backfire since medical schools are still channeling too many young doctors into highly paid specialties instead of primary care, which will exacerbate the problem of rising health care costs.
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Health care practitioners short in supply in rural communities
by Elizabeth Stawicki
May 1, 2012 (MPRnews) - Rural health leaders from Minnesota told White House officials Tuesday that their communities not only face shortages of nurses and doctors, but of many other health care workers as well.
Mark Schoenbaum, who directs Minnesota's office of rural health and primary care, says rural communities also need rural areas need teams of health care workers that include nurse practitioners; physician assistants; dental therapists and community paramedics. Right now, the current system relies on too few physicians and nurses who are overtaxed and in short supply, he said.
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How a Stanford dermatologist is using telemedicine to reach underserved populations in California
by Emily Hite
May 3, 2012 (HHS News Release) - Physicians in rural areas in California are in short supply, and some fear the scarcity could grow more severe. But telemedicine might prove beneficial in these parts: Research has shown increased use could help reduce health disparities between rural and non-rural areas.
David J. Wong, MD, PhD, a Stanford dermatologist and cofounder and CEO of Direct Dermatology, stands among health-care providers working to increase the reach of telemedicine. His company brings medical dermatology expertise to poor and underserved populations in California to treat serious and even life-threatening conditions including melanoma, psoriasis and problems of the skin, hair, and nails.
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Alaska's Senators Welcome Agreement for Rural Health Care
by Ashleigh Ebert
May 5, 2012 (KTUU.com) - Alaska's Senators are welcoming an agreement by the Veterans Administration that allows Rural Alaska veterans to receive health care benefits at Native health clinics.
A release from Senator Mark Begich's office says the VA, 14 Alaska Native Tribal Health Programs and the Department of Veterans Affairs signed an agreement that allows Alaska Native veterans to get care at participating village clinics. The VA will then reimburse the clinics. Before the veterans had to travel to Anchorage or as far away as Seattle for health care.
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Med school on the fast track: A 3-year degree
by Carolyne Krupa
May 7, 2012 (amednews.com) - In response to concerns about nationwide shortages of primary care physicians and rising student debts, several U.S. medical schools are experimenting with programs that allow students to obtain a degree in three years instead of four.
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