Rural Spotlight

Cyber Safety for Small, Medium & Large Healthcare Organizations

May 17, 2024

Cyber Safety for Small, Medium & Large Healthcare Organizations

Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) is any information that can be used for identity theft, financial fraud or damage the patient’s reputation.

Data classification is based on understanding where this type of data resides, where it is accessed, and how it is shared.

An organization needs to identify the types of data files and types of records relevant to each category of classification such as sensitive, internal use or public use, which in turn can help your organization decide how it should be protected.

Threats Data Classification Mitigates:

  • Ransomware attack
  • Loss or theft of equipment or data
  • Insider, accidental or malicious data loss

Click Here to download this FREE resource

FREE Healthcare Supply Chain Risk Management Webinar – June 12

May 17, 2024

FREE Healthcare Supply Chain Risk Management Webinar – June 12

Register now for the free Healthcare Supply Chain Risk Management webinar, presented by David Sims, CHMSP and CEO of Security First IT.

The webinar will cover the following key topics:

  • Importance of vendor vetting & supply chain risk management
  • Understanding supply chain risks in healthcare
  • Key components of vendor vetting
  • Implementing a risk management framework

When: Wednesday, June 12, 12:00 p.m. CT

Cost: Free

Register Here

New Botnet Video – Cyber Safety is Patient Safety

May 17, 2024

New Botnet Video – Cyber Safety is Patient Safety

The HHS 405(d) Knowledge on Demand page has added a new free educational video on Botnets.

This video helps users identify and be aware of the threat of botnet by understanding what it is and how it works.

Organizations can use this video and share with others that may or may not know the term botnet, or the threat that looms.

Click Here to access the free video

Safety of Outpatient Health Care

May 17, 2024

Safety of Outpatient Health Care

Despite considerable emphasis on delivering safe care, substantial patient harm occurs. Although most care occurs in outpatient settings, research into adverse events (AE) in this setting remains sparse in comparison to acute care.

Seven percent had at least one AE, most commonly adverse drug events, and 23% were potentially preventable. Most AE originated from care in the physician’s office.

The conclusion was made that outpatient harm was relatively common and often serious. Adverse drug events were most frequent. Rates were higher among older adults. Interventions to curtail outpatient harm are urgently needed.

For more information about this study, go to the National Library of Medicine.

NRHA Today – Newsletter

May 17, 2024

NRHA Today – Newsletter

The National Rural Health Association has released the latest version of “NRHA Today”.

Click Here to Access Newsletter

Become a New Site for the National Health Service Corp – Apply by June 25

May 16, 2024

Become a New Site for the National Health Service Corp – Apply by June 25

Eligible health care facilities can apply to become National Health Service Corps (NHSC)-approved sites. The application for new sites interested in becoming NHSC-approved is now open through June 25 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

NHSC approved sites provide outpatient, comprehensive primary health care services to people in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

Benefits to becoming an NHSC-approved site include assistance in recruiting, hiring and retaining quality providers through programs such as the NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program.

Learn More about becoming an NHSC site.

Get help with your application:

HRSA’s National Hansen’s Disease Program

May 13, 2024

HRSA’s National Hansen’s Disease Program

Since 1984, The Health Resource and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) National Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) Program (NHDP) has served as the epicenter of Hansen’s disease, including free consultations, trainings, and medications for leprosy treatment at no cost to the patient.

The NHDP Program’s Clinical Center is located in Baton Rouge, LA and also manages an ambulatory care network of 16 Federally supported outpatient clinics across 10 states and Puerto Rico where patients can receive the following medical care for Hansen’s disease-related condition, free of charge:

  • Antibiotics
  • Pathology diagnostic services
  • Physician visits at NHDP and clinics

For more information:

Hansen’s Disease Resources:

Why are Rural Americans – Especially Women- Dying Younger?

April 25, 2024

Why are Rural Americans – Especially Women- Dying Younger?

Rural Americans aged 25 to 54 are dying of natural causes such as chronic diseases and cancer at wildly higher rates than their urban peers, according to a recent report.

The disparity was significantly worse for women, and for Native American women in particular.

The gap highlights how persistent difficulties accessing health care and a dispassionate response from national leaders can eat away at the fabric of rural communities.

The National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA’s) Government Affairs team has produced policy briefs on rural women’s health and American Indian and Alaska Native health.

Read Rural Women’s Health policy brief

Read American Indian and Alaska Native Health policy brief

 

Webinar – New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC – May 9, 12:00 p.m. CT

April 25, 2024

Webinar – New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC – May 9, 1:00 p.m. ET

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) is hosting a free, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)-supported webinar with information on incorporating Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) into Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).

Medicare coverage of Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors in RHCs began January 1, 2024. This webinar will feature representatives from the National Board for Certified Counselors and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, who will provide information to ensure RHCs are equipped to consider expanding behavioral health services. Additional time for Q&A will be provided. Advanced registration is required.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, May 9, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CT

Register Here

Rural Health Research Gateway – Research Recap: LGBTQ+ Health: Rural vs Urban Inequities

April 25, 2024

Rural Health Research Gateway – Research Recap: LGBTQ+ Health: Rural vs Urban Inequities

From 2019-2020, rural lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults were more likely to report poor/fair self-rated health than rural heterosexual adults.

This  Recap summarizes several policy briefs from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center examining self-rated health, chronic conditions, mental health, and social and emotional support systems for LGBTQ+ populations.

Click Here to View Research Recap