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All posts tagged with “General News | Rural Provider News.”
Introduction: ‘Those who have made death their life’
01/16/25 at 02:00 AMIntroduction: ‘Those who have made death their life’The Daily Yonder - Keep It Rural; by Hannah Clark; 1/15/25 Hannah Clark spent six months riding along with the nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) of Hearth Hospice who provide in-home care to those living in Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee. These hospice workers often drive up to a hundred miles a day to visit a handful of patients scattered across the Appalachian landscape in both rural towns and urban centers. What will follow this introductory essay is her photo reportage in three parts, documenting what she has witnessed accompanying these caregivers. The intimate portraits and vignettes show tender moments at different stages towards the end of one’s life. Their beauty lies in the companionship Clark captured in moments of need and vulnerability.
Allevant Solutions shares over 10 years of insights into rural post-acute care patient outcomes
01/15/25 at 03:00 AMAllevant Solutions shares over 10 years of insights into rural post-acute care patient outcomes PR Newswire, Mechanicsburg, PA; by Allevant Solutions, LLC; 1/13/25 Allevant Solutions, LLC shared key insights from its experience over a 10-year period showing that partnerships between larger acute care hospitals and rural critical access hospitals (CAHs) for post-acute care benefit patients, health care teams and hospitals. The aggregate, de-identified data reflects patient outcomes from over 100 CAHs across 24 states, specifically around the utilization of the swing bed concept – which Allevant calls Transitional Care. A swing bed is the federal government's term for a patient bed in a small, rural critical access hospital that can be used for acute or post-acute care after a hospital stay. Rural patients who have to leave their community for higher levels of care often have difficulty finding high-quality, continuing care when they are ready to return.
Rural families have ‘critical’ need for more hospice, respite care
01/07/25 at 03:00 AMRural families have ‘critical’ need for more hospice, respite care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/6/25 Economic and financial headwinds have increasingly posed significant challenges for rural-based hospice providers, with some shuttering their programs in recent years. ... Hospices in rural regions have particularly been hard hit by these labor pressures amid rising demand for their services, with recent years bringing program closures across the country. ... Having a hospice offer services wherever a patient lives was the top priority cited by 400 rural-based caregiver respondents in a recent research study from the Alliance’s Diversity Advisory Council and Transcend Strategy Group. However, roughly 40% of the caregiver respondents were not able to name a nearby hospice provider. ... The lack of hospice availability has left gaps in supportive services that address terminally ill patients’ full range of physical, emotional and spiritual needs.This has also worsened disparities among rural family caregivers.Notable mention: Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance)
As drugstores close, more people are left in ‘pharmacy deserts’
01/02/25 at 03:00 AMAs drugstores close, more people are left in ‘pharmacy deserts’ The San Diego Union-Tribune; by The New York Times Service Syndicate; 12/31/24 In July, a notice appeared on the front door of The Drug Store, the only pharmacy in rural Kernville, in Kern County. After 45 years, the proprietor wrote regretfully, it would be closing in four days and transferring customers’ prescriptions to a Rite Aid about 12 miles away. ... Its closing created practical concerns. “We are an aging population,” Gordon, 69, said of the townspeople. ... Now, those services require a 20- to 30-minute drive to the Rite Aid, which is in Lake Isabella and which Gordon described as understaffed for its growing number of customers. “On any given day, there’s a line of 10 to 15 people waiting at the pickup window,” she said. Unlike The Drug Store, the Rite Aid doesn’t deliver. That leaves Kernville residents in what researchers call a pharmacy desert, defined as living more than 10 miles from the nearest pharmacy in rural areas, 2 miles away in suburban communities or 1 mile away in urban neighborhoods. Nearly 30% of pharmacies in the United States closed between 2010 and 2021, according to a new study in the journal Health Affairs.
National Alliance for Care at Home and Transcend Strategy Group publish Rural American Hospice Insights Report
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMNational Alliance for Care at Home and Transcend Strategy Group publish Rural American Hospice Insights Report National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 12/19/24The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) and Transcend Strategy Group published the results of new research exploring perceptions of hospice care among rural and small-town communities. This survey of 400 people is part of the Alliance’s commitment to health equity and to breaking down barriers to accessing hospice and home care through knowledge sharing, data collection, and collaborative discussion. Along with key research findings, the Rural American Hospice Insights report offers recommendations for hospice providers to help increase understanding of hospice care and help overcome barriers to access. Key findings and recommendations include:
Michigan Center for Rural Health announces new program focused on improving rural based palliative care
12/18/24 at 03:00 AMMichigan Center for Rural Health announces new program focused on improving rural based palliative care PRLOG - Press Release Distribution, East Lansing, MI; by Michigan Center for Rural Health - Amanda St. Martin; 12/16/24 The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) has announced Phase Two of its palliative care programming. Palliative care provides relief from symptoms, pain, and stress associated with serious illnesses and can be administered alongside curative treatments. It is suitable for patients of any age or illness stage. The program titled "Cultivating Comfort: Enhancing Palliative Care in Rural Michigan," funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, will launch on January 1, 2025, and continue through December 2026. ... Rural adults tend to experience a higher prevalence of chronic conditions compared to their urban counterparts, as they are often older, poorer, and more likely to have multiple chronic illnesses. MCRH's new program seeks to address this need through a community driven approach.
Softly into the night - An end of life love story
12/02/24 at 03:00 AMSoftly into the night - An end of life love story Billings Gazette, Billings, MT; by Joseph Scheller; 11/29/24 This is a picture story about life — of joys and sadness, of challenges and struggles and sacrifice. It’s a story about dementia and caregiving. It’s a story about souls and spirit and deepening devotion. Mostly, though, this is a love story. It begins with Wayne Roberts, a big and burley guy with a Harley but as personable and approachable as they come. ... It was simple, really. When he wasn’t at work, he was caring for his wife, Lynne, who had onsets of dementia. When he was at work, he was thinking of her. I wasn’t looking for a story about caregiving but there was a warmth and openness about Wayne and Lynne that tugged me to tell one through my camera. ... [With] their comfort and trust, I became part of their world, in a way, and was able to photograph most anything. They were mostly simple scenes of daily living and caring, some sensitive, some not, and as dementia stole more and more of Lynne’s mind, her world got smaller and Wayne was her only gateway to it. He paved it with tenderness. ... [Click on the title's link to see photos and read this inspirational story.]
Hospice of Northeast Missouri marks 30 years, eyes future growth
11/26/24 at 03:15 AMHospice of Northeast Missouri marks 30 years, eyes future growth KBUR, Burlington, MO; by collinleddy; 11/25/24 Hospice of Northeast Missouri recently marked 30 years of service, expanding from its original focus in Adair County to cover a ten-county region. This growth addresses the critical need for end-of-life care in rural areas, providing support for patients and their families in managing symptoms and caregiving responsibilities. The organization has seen an increase in demand for its services, particularly among Medicare recipients in rural areas. Between 2010 and 2022, the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries using hospice care rose from 34% to 42%, reflecting broader trends in aging populations and the growing importance of caregiving. ... As the hospice looks ahead, it plans to further expand its resources and focus on community education, ensuring that more families are aware of the benefits hospice care provides during difficult times.Editor's note: Per the ongoing number of hospices that celebrate decade-marker anniversaries, we typically do not post those articles. However, the growth patterns in these descriptions reflect hospice organizational trends nationwide: expanding geographical access, rural utilization, increased priorities for caregivers, snf the importance of community education.
Elizabeth Nemacheck: The personal consequences of EPH's discontinuation of in-home hospice
11/25/24 at 03:00 AMElizabeth Nemacheck: The personal consequences of EPH's discontinuation of in-home hospice Estes Park Trail-Gazette, Estes Park, CO; by Elizabeth Nemacheck; updated 11/22/24 I am writing regarding Estes Park Health's decision to eliminate in-home hospice and home health care in Estes Park. Hospice helps the family by dismantling hospice, Estes Park Health has off-loaded the end-of-life burden solely on the family, during one of the most difficult and totally predictable life events. I hope to illustrate three key issues we identified by sharing my story. My father died at home in September of 2024. After his terminal cancer diagnosis midsummer, my family discussed my dad's wishes in consultation with his oncologist and primary care doctor. Like so many of us, my dad decided that he would very much like to die at home, so that became our goal. We sought alternatives to hospice support beyond Estes Park Health's discontinued home hospice care; once we confirmed that the only hospice available in Estes was in-hospital hospice, we built the infrastructure ourselves to be able to keep my dad at home. Thankfully we had the financial resources to do so, and a lot of gumption. While we were able to keep him at home, we identified three key issues:
CMS Innovation Center reimagines rural health care approaches
11/19/24 at 03:00 AMCMS Innovation Center reimagines rural health care approaches Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation; 11/12/24 Re-Imagining Rural Health: Themes, Concepts, and Next steps from the CMS Innovation Center "Hackathon" Series. ... Over sixty million Americans currently live in areas identified as rural, Tribal, frontier, and geographically isolated areas, including the U.S. Territories. Compared to people living in urban areas, rural Americans are more likely to experience poverty, be older, be uninsured, and have a disability. At the same time, rural communities face unique barriers to accessing care due to more limited availability of health care providers, including primary care, specialty care and home and community-based services, and residents often have to travel long distances to obtain health care. [Click on the title's link to continue reading (and distribute) this important 20 page whitepaper.]
New report for 2024: Rural-urban disparities in health care in Medicare
11/19/24 at 02:00 AMNew report for 2024: Rural-urban disparities in health care in Medicare Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); 11/14/24 Advancing Health Equity in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities. FY2023 Year in Review, November 2023. From the Co-Chairs: ... This year’s annual report demonstrates CMS’ ongoing commitment to advancing health equity for individuals living and working across diverse geographies. These actions span a wide breadth of the agency’s authorities and roles, including regulation, payment, coverage, tools and publications, partner engagement, health system innovations, quality of care, and regional coordination. Across these actions, CMS maintains a focus on the goal of improving the lives of our enrollees and those who care for them. We eagerly anticipate our continued collaboration and partnership with all those CMS serves to advance health care in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities.
Local hospice care offers services
11/05/24 at 03:15 AMLocal hospice care offers services The Tribune, Seymour, IN; by Chey Smith; 11/1/24 St. Croix Hospice has recently expanded its reach locally to those in the community who need the resources they provide, ... The firm provides hospice care throughout the Midwest including three other branches in Indiana — Jeffersonville, Newburgh and Indianapolis. While in Seymour, they are able to serve Jackson County as well as those residents from Bartholomew, Brown, Jennings, Lawrence, Monroe, Scott and Washington counties. Caregivers at each hospice location live in the communities they serve, allowing in-person care for patients whenever they need it. Services are available nights, weekends and holidays. Chris Thomas, regional director of clinical operations at St. Croix’s Indiana locations, talked about the importance of this closeness and flexibility. “We wanted to move to this location because we wanted to service the local community,” Thomas said. “Try to stay closer to the community for faster response time.” This phase of someone’s life can be scary, but Thomas says that it doesn’t have to be that way. “People are scared when they hear the word hospice. We just want to let the community know that it’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re giving up,” he said. “We really want to focus on the time they have left.”
‘Stop Requested’: To Lakeview, Oregon’s ‘Mile High City’
11/04/24 at 03:00 AM‘Stop Requested’: To Lakeview, Oregon’s ‘Mile High City’ OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting); by Lillian Karabaic; 10/27/24 Lakeview isn‘t close to much, but locals figure out how to get ’er done. ... OPB “Weekend Edition” host Lillian Karabaic and producer Prakruti Bhatt experience the joys and difficulties of rural transit and talk to many people along the way. ... To reach Lakeview, we turn to the Lake County Cloud, a transit service run by the Lakeview Senior Center. Lake County Cloud doesn‘t have any fixed route services. Its crew of eight part-time drivers mostly do by-reservation trips to medical appointments and a few shopping trips. This became even more important after Lakeview’s only specialty clinic and hospice closed in 2023. ... Because the nearest city is Klamath Falls, more than 90 miles away, Lake County Transit puts in a lot of miles. It also goes up to Medford, down to California, and even all the way to Portland for chemotherapy. “We do about 30,000 [or] 40,000 miles a month … it’s a lot for a little town and little crew," says Linda Mickle, transportation coordinator for Lake County Transit.
CCH, foundation working together again to look at possibility of reopening Hospice House
10/25/24 at 03:40 AMCCH, foundation working together again to look at possibility of reopening Hospice House Gillette News Record, Gillette, WY; by News Record Staff; 10/24/24 Campbell County Health and the Northeast Wyoming Community Health Foundation are back at the table again to explore the feasibility of reopening the Close to Home Hospice House. According to press releases sent out Wednesday from both groups, this initiative aims to enhance inpatient hospice services by reopening a home that facilitates end-of-life support, providing a compassionate space for individuals to receive care with dignity. “We are considering this in partnership with a third-party operator, which will be discussed and decided upon collaboratively,” the press releases read. “Our primary focus is the well-being of our community, and we are committed to transparency as we engage in these preliminary discussions."
Southern Tier Health helps HomeCare & Hospice, Total Senior Care on USDA grant
10/23/24 at 03:00 AMSouthern Tier Health helps HomeCare & Hospice, Total Senior Care on USDA grant Olean Times Herald, Olean, NY; by Kellen M. Quigley; 10/22/24 A collaboration between three local agencies looking out for the health and well-being of their clients is getting a modern technological boost thanks to a federal grant. The Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. (STHCS) was recently awarded nearly $140,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. This funding is meant to empower rural communities by leveraging advanced technology to connect residents and healthcare providers, overcoming the challenges of distance and low population density. Of the total grant, $114,606.80 was allocated to HomeCare & Hospice and Total Senior Care for state-of-the-art digital communication and remote learning tools, including high-definition displays, advanced cameras and integrated audio systems.
Estes Park's only hospital joining UCHealth System
10/18/24 at 03:00 AMEstes Park's only hospital joining UCHealth System Fort Collins Coloradoan; by Kelly Lyell; 10/17/24 Estes Park Health has started the process of joining the UCHealth System, with an expected starting date in the spring of 2025, the two organizations announced in a joint news release Wednesday. ... Estes Park Health has been financially challenged in recent years to maintain its services, the news release said, citing problems hospitals across the country have had keeping up with “dramatically increasing expenses, rising uncompensated care and minimal increases in reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid.” As a result, the only hospital serving the Estes Valley, including visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park, has had to transfer or reduce its obstetrics, home health and hospice services.Editor's note: We've been following this story as but one of many examples of rural healthcare examples that result in reduced utilization for hospice services.
Stratis Health builds framework for expanding rural community-based palliative care
10/17/24 at 03:00 AMStratis Health builds framework for expanding rural community-based palliative care Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/16/24 The health care performance improvement company Stratis Health has developed a framework for expanding access to palliative care in rural communities. The company’s strategy convenes resources and organizations that already exist in a given community to help meet patient’s palliative care, psychosocial, spiritual and social determinants of health needs. It leverages those resources to offer a wraparound suite of services for seniors and seriously ill patients. Hospice News spoke with Karla Weng, senior program manager for Stratis Health, about how health care providers and other stakeholders serving rural communities can come together to better serve their patients and clients. ... The field has shifted in more recent years, so that community-based really means anywhere but the hospital. It might be in a clinic. It might be home care. We’re not that prescriptive. So we have sometimes shifted to using the language “community centric.” The way that we work with communities who are interested in going down this path is helping them first to do a gap analysis and assessment of the resources that are already there in their community. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
CMS updates guidance for rural emergency hospitals: 16 things to know
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMCMS updates guidance for rural emergency hospitals: 16 things to know Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Alan Condon; 9/17/24 CMS has updated guidance for hospitals interested in converting to a rural emergency hospital, a Medicare designation that was made available Jan. 1, 2023. REHs are a provider type established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, to address concerns over rural hospital closures and provide rural facilities a potential alternative to closure. Since 2005, 106 rural hospitals have shut down, with another 86 facilities no longer providing inpatient services, according to data compiled by the University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Of those, 37 closures have occurred since 2020. Here are 16 things to know about REHs, including designation requirements, qualifying facilities, conditions of participation and how many hospitals have converted to REHs.
AHCA’s Access to Care report provides grim assessment of nursing home trends
08/29/24 at 02:00 AMAHCA’s Access to Care report provides grim assessment of nursing home trends McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Jessica R. Towhey; 8/22/24 Nearly 800 nursing homes closed between February 2020 and July 2024, displacing nearly 30,000 residents, according to a new report from the sector’s largest provider advocacy group. The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living added in its annual Access to Care report that the consequences to rural communities have been devastating. “It’s not hyperbole to say access to care is a national crisis,” Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL, said in a press release announcing the report on Thursday. “Nursing homes are closing at a rate much faster than they are opening, and yet with each passing day, our nation grows older. Providers are doing everything they can to protect and expand access to care, but without support from policymakers, access to care remains under threat.”
Examining the relationship between rural and urban clinicians’ familiarity with patients and families and their comfort with palliative and end-of-life care communication
08/15/24 at 03:00 AMExamining the relationship between rural and urban clinicians’ familiarity with patients and families and their comfort with palliative and end-of-life care communication
Bridge the gap: Addressing rural end-of-life care disparities and access to hospice services
07/20/24 at 03:30 AMBridge the gap: Addressing rural end-of-life care disparities and access to hospice services Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Asif Anwar, Muhammad Kashif Amin, Sherezaad Anwar, Moazzam Shahzad; 7/11/24 online ahead of print Rural hospices face many obstacles in delivering palliative and end-of-life care in the United States. We aimed to identify these barriers and their potential solutions. ... We propose several potential solutions to overcome these hurdles and improve access. ... Advanced practice providers should be considered to serve as physician heads in rural hospices, which would expand resources in areas with physician shortages. A single per diem payment model should be implemented for rural hospices, regardless of the level of care provided, to help offset the higher cost of care. he Critical Access Hospital program and offering cost-based reimbursement for swing-bed stays could improve access to post-acute care, including hospice services. Telehealth can improve the timeliness of care and reduce travel costs for patients and providers. [Continue reading for more solutions.]
Emory receives $5 million grant to improve geriatric care and education
07/18/24 at 03:00 AMEmory receives $5 million grant to improve geriatric care and education Saporta Report; by Emory University, Atlanta, GA; 7/16/24 Emory University has been awarded a $5 million cooperative agreement by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to enhance geriatric care and education for health care workers in Georgia’s urban and rural areas. This five-year funding will support Georgia Gear (Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program), operated through the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. ... The Georgia Gear program will partner with organizations including Georgia Memory Net, the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Area Health Education Center, the Technical College System of Georgia, Emory Healthcare, the Atlanta VA Health Care System, and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).
Rural hospitals built during Baby Boom now face Baby Bust
07/17/24 at 03:00 AMRural hospitals built during Baby Boom now face Baby Bust KFF Health News; by Tony Leys; 7/15/24 ... Many of the U.S. hospitals that are now dropping obstetrics units were built or expanded in the mid-1900s, when America went on a rural-hospital building spree, thanks to federal funding from the Hill-Burton Act. “It was an amazing program,” said Brock Slabach, chief operations officer for the National Rural Health Association. “Basically, if you were a county that wanted a hospital, they gave you the money.”Editor's Note: Mark Cohen has discussed the Hilburton Act with Chris Comeaux in their monthly TCN podcasts. Closures of rural hospital services continue to increase, impacting end-of-life care awareness, referrals, and utilization throughout our nation's rural areas.
States with the most rural hospital closures in the past 20 years
07/05/24 at 03:00 AMStates with the most rural hospital closures in the past 20 years Becker's CFO Report; by Mariah Taylor; 6/28/24 Since January 2005, 192 rural hospitals have closed or converted, according to data compiled by the University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Of those hospitals, 105 have completely closed, and 87 have converted, meaning the facilities no longer provide inpatient services, but continue to provide some services, such as primary care, skilled nursing care or long-term care. Since 2020, 36 hospitals have closed or converted.
New AMA president says he's ready to take on big challenges facing doctors amid payment cuts and rising burnout rates
06/19/24 at 03:00 AMNew AMA president says he's ready to take on big challenges facing doctors amid payment cuts and rising burnout rates Fierce Healthcare; by Emma Beavins; 6/13/24 Bruce Scott, M.D., took the reins of the American Medical Association (AMA) for his first full day on Wednesday, June 12, succeeding immediate past president Jesse Ehrenfeld, M.D. ... During his tenure, Scott said he wants to emphasize the things that unite providers rather than the things that divide them. ... Some of the AMA’s biggest policy priorities include reducing prior authorization, bolstering Medicare payments for physicians and tamping down on increased scope of practice by non-physician providers. Scott said he hopes to follow in the steps of Ehrenfeld in engaging policymakers on these topics. In addition to banding together on those cross-discipline issues, Scott wants to advocate for rural clinics.