# Rural Health * **Definition:** Healthcare services provided in rural areas, which often face significant challenges such as financial pressures, staffing shortages, and limited access to specialized services, while aiming to enhance the ability of individuals in these areas to obtain necessary healthcare through innovative solutions and collaboration. * **Taxonomy:** Healthcare Topics / Rural Health ## News * Selected news on the topic of **Rural Health**, for healthcare technology leaders * 7.5K news items are in the system for this topic * Posts have been filtered for tech and healthcare-related keywords | Date | Title | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | 5/27/2025 | [**Digital Divide Deepens? Supreme Court Ruling Looms Over Rural Healthcare Telecom Program**](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/digital-health/digital-divide-deepens-supreme-court-ruling-looms-over-rural-healthcare-telecom-program/) | [[Beckers Hospital Review]] | | 5/27/2025 | [**Rural Healthcare Challenges: How AI & Telemedicine Can Improve Access - HIT Consultant**](https://hitconsultant.net/2025/05/27/rural-healthcare-challenges-how-ai-telemedicine-can-improve-access/) | [[HIT Consultant]] | | 5/27/2025 | [**Tackling data inequities: How healthcare leaders can improve the bottom line**](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/tackling-data-inequities-how-healthcare-leaders-can-improve-the-bottom-line/) | [[Beckers Hospital Review]] | | 5/12/2025 | [**The Next Stop on Healthcare's EHR Optimization Journey: AI**](https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2025/05/next-stop-healthcares-ehr-optimization-journey-ai) | [[HealthTech Magazine]] | | 5/12/2025 | [**The Risk to Rural Health Networks: Q&A with Marcel Botha - Pharmaceutical Executive**](https://www.pharmexec.com/view/risk-rural-health-networks-marcel-botha) | [[PharmExec]] | | 5/12/2025 | [**The Risk to Rural Health Networks: Q&A with Marcel Botha - Pharmaceutical Executive**](http://www.pharmexec.com/view/risk-rural-health-networks-marcel-botha) | [[PharmExec]] | | 5/5/2025 | [**Reimbursement Trends May Reshape Rural Emergency Healthcare Services**](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/strategy/reimbursement-trends-may-reshape-rural-emergency-healthcare-services/) | [[Beckers Hospital Review]] | | 4/13/2025 | [**Rural healthcare's technology imperative: Breaking down barriers to care - Viewpoint**](https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/rural-healthcare-s-technology-imperative-breaking-down-barriers-to-care-viewpoint) | [[Chief Healthcare Executive]] | | 2/22/2025 | [**Black Book Research Releases 2025 Rural Healthcare IT Solutions Report Addressing ...**](https://www.newswire.com/news/black-book-research-releases-2025-rural-healthcare-it-solutions-report-22524487) | [[Newswire]] | | 2/21/2025 | [**Black Book Research Releases 2025 Rural Healthcare IT Solutions Report Addressing ...**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/black-book-research-releases-2025-223500933.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 12/23/2024 | [**China's Digital Healthcare Transformation: Local Vendors Lead 2025 EHR Adoption ...**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chinas-digital-healthcare-transformation-local-150000005.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 11/13/2024 | [**Cybersecurity Is New Rural Health IT Community's First Priority - Healthcare Innovation**](https://www.hcinnovationgroup.com/cybersecurity/news/55242709/cybersecurity-is-new-rural-health-it-communitys-first-priority) | [[Healthcare Innovation]] | | 9/25/2024 | [**Is AI helping or hurting rural healthcare?**](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/is-ai-helping-or-hurting-rural-healthcare.html) | [[Beckers Hospital Review]] | | 9/25/2024 | [**MultiPlan and the National Rural Health Association Announce Strategic Alliance to Empower Rural Healthcare Providers through Innovative Technology and Services**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925765797/en/MultiPlan-and-the-National-Rural-Health-Association-Announce-Strategic-Alliance-to-Empower-Rural-Healthcare-Providers-through-Innovative-Technology-and-Services/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RLXHJgazfQJNuOVHefdHP-D8R-QU5o2AvY8bhI9uvWSD8DYIYv4TIC1g1u0AKcacnnViVjtb72bOP4-4nHK5ieT3WxPE8m_kWI77F87CseT) | [[Business Wire]] | | 9/25/2024 | [**MultiPlan and the National Rural Health Association Announce Strategic Alliance to Empower Rural Healthcare Providers through Innovative Technology and Services**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925765797/en/MultiPlan-and-the-National-Rural-Health-Association-Announce-Strategic-Alliance-to-Empower-Rural-Healthcare-Providers-through-Innovative-Technology-and-Services/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-Q-tiwWZwkcswR1UZtV7eGe24xL9TZOyQUMS3J72mJlQ7fxFuNFTHSunhvli30RlBNXya2izy9YOgHlBiZQk2LOzmn6JePCpHPCiYGaEx4DL1Rq8pNwkf3AarimpDzQGuQ==) | [[Business Wire]] | | 9/25/2024 | [**MultiPlan and the National Rural Health Association Announce Strategic Alliance ... - Business Wire**](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925765797/en/MultiPlan-and-the-National-Rural-Health-Association-Announce-Strategic-Alliance-to-Empower-Rural-Healthcare-Providers-through-Innovative-Technology-and-Services) | [[Business Wire]] | | 9/25/2024 | [**MultiPlan and the National Rural Health Association Announce Strategic Alliance to ... - Morningstar**](https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20240925765797/multiplan-and-the-national-rural-health-association-announce-strategic-alliance-to-empower-rural-healthcare-providers-through-innovative-technology-and-services) | [[Morningstar]] | | 9/25/2024 | [**MultiPlan and the National Rural Health Association Announce Strategic Alliance to Empower Rural Healthcare Providers through Innovative Technology and Services**](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925765797/en/) | [[Business Wire]] | | 9/25/2024 | [**MultiPlan and the National Rural Health Association Announce Strategic Alliance to Empower Rural Healthcare Providers through Innovative Technology and Services**](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925765797/en/MultiPlan-and-the-National-Rural-Health-Association-Announce-Strategic-Alliance-to-Empower-Rural-Healthcare-Providers-through-Innovative-Technology-and-Services/) | [[Business Wire]] | | 9/24/2024 | [**Noridian Launches its Rural Health Council to Advance Health Equity Across Rural and Underserved Communities**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240924883224/en/Noridian-Launches-its-Rural-Health-Council-to-Advance-Health-Equity-Across-Rural-and-Underserved-Communities/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RLXHJgazfQJNuOVHefdHP-D8R-QU5o2AvY8bhI9uvWSD8DYIYv4TIC1g1u0AKcacnnViVjtb72bOP4-4nHK5ieT3WxPE8m_kWI77F87CseT) | [[Business Wire]] | | 9/24/2024 | [**Noridian Launches its Rural Health Council to Advance Health Equity Across Rural and Underserved Communities**](https://www.healthcaredive.com/press-release/20240924-noridian-launches-its-rural-health-council-to-advance-health-equity-across/) | [[Healthcare Dive]] | | 9/17/2024 | [**Nordic to create new national Rural Health IT Community**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nordic-to-create-new-national-rural-health-it-community-302250512.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 9/17/2024 | [**Nordic, Microsoft, CHIME to Launch National Rural Health IT Community - HIT Consultant**](https://hitconsultant.net/2024/09/17/nordic-microsoft-to-launch-national-rural-health-it-community/) | [[HIT Consultant]] | | 9/10/2024 | [**Transforming Rural Healthcare: A Lifeline Through Financial Technologies**](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/transforming-rural-healthcare-a-lifeline-through-financial-technologies.html) | [[Beckers Hospital Review]] | | 7/18/2024 | [**Rural Healthcare Voices on a National Platform**](https://www.healthitanswers.net/rural-healthcare-voices-on-a-national-platform/) | [[Health IT Answers]] | ## Topic Overview (Some LLM-derived content — please confirm with above primary sources) ### Key Players - **HomeTown Health**: A network of rural hospitals advocating for rural healthcare needs and improving access to care. - **National Rural Health Association (NRHA)**: An organization that advocates for rural health issues and collaborates with healthcare providers to improve access and quality of care. - **American Heart Association**: An organization addressing healthcare disparities in rural areas through telehealth hubs. - **University of Maryland School of Medicine**: Launched the Rural Health Equity and Access Longitudinal Elective (R-HEALE) to address health disparities in rural Maryland. - **Chartis**: A healthcare advisory firm that provides insights into the challenges facing rural health safety nets. - **Maryland Rural Health Association (MRHA)**: An organization that leverages local expertise to enhance awareness and access to mental health services in rural Maryland. - **Intermountain Health**: A healthcare system advocating for a hub-and-spoke model to support rural healthcare providers with advanced resources. - **Hillsdale Hospital**: A healthcare provider recognized for its community outreach and advocacy for rural health. - **Noridian Healthcare Solutions**: A healthcare solutions provider that established the Noridian Rural Health Council to address barriers faced by rural and tribal communities. - **Fidelis Care**: An organization offering grants to improve health outcomes in rural areas. - **Marshall Health Network**: An academic health system collaborating on digital health solutions to improve rural healthcare access. - **Egyptian Health**: An organization addressing social determinants of health for children in rural Illinois. - **Guthrie Clinic**: A healthcare system serving a vast rural area across Pennsylvania and New York, praised for its effectiveness in rural healthcare delivery. - **Nordic**: A healthcare technology company involved in establishing a national Rural Health IT Community. - **Sanford Health**: The largest rural healthcare system in the U.S., focusing on cloud modernization and operational efficiency. - **Altera Digital Health**: Provider of cloud-based electronic health records aimed at improving system reliability and data accessibility for rural hospitals. - **MultiPlan Corporation**: A healthcare technology company that partners with the National Rural Health Association to enhance access to quality healthcare services in rural communities. - **Penn State College of Medicine**: Established the Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities (CAHE-RUC) to tackle health disparities in Pennsylvania. ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Noridian Healthcare Solutions and Rural Health Council**: Focused on tackling pressing health issues in rural America through strategic initiatives and community engagement. - **Modivcare and Michigan Center for Rural Health**: Focused on increasing digital health capacity in rural hospitals. - **Nordic, Microsoft, and CHIME**: Establishing a national Rural Health IT Community to support rural healthcare. - **R-HEALE**: Collaborates with various partners to train medical students in rural healthcare practices. - **American Heart Association**: Establishing telehealth hubs in libraries to improve access to healthcare in rural Texas. - **HomeTown Health's policymaker tour**: Engagement with state leaders to address rural healthcare issues and advocate for local needs. - **Microsoft and National Rural Health Association**: Collaborating to enhance cybersecurity for rural healthcare systems. - **Guthrie and Pennsylvania Government**: Collaboration to enhance rural healthcare delivery, with a budget proposal of $10 million to support rural hospitals. - **Fidelis Care and local healthcare providers**: Launching a grant program to improve healthcare access in rural communities. - **Intermountain Health**: Partners with Microsoft and Epic to promote a hub-and-spoke model for rural healthcare. - **Equum Medical and NCHN**: This partnership enhances telehealth services for rural healthcare providers, addressing workforce shortages and improving patient outcomes. - **UWC and MRHA**: Collaborating to address mental health challenges in rural Maryland by reducing stigma and increasing access to support. - **CentraCare and KeyCare**: Partnering to provide 24/7 virtual urgent care visits across all 50 states, improving access to care in rural areas. - **MultiPlan and NRHA**: Formed a strategic alliance to enhance access to high-quality healthcare services in rural communities through innovative technology. - **Suki with MEDENT and Azalea Health**: Integrating AI capabilities into EHR systems to improve healthcare delivery in rural settings. - **Microsoft's Cybersecurity Program**: A public-private partnership aimed at enhancing cybersecurity measures in rural hospitals. - **Fujifilm and NRHA**: Partnership to enhance access to medical imaging in rural areas, providing tailored technologies and purchasing plans. - **Intermountain Health Coalition**: A collaboration with Microsoft and Gates Ventures to address systemic issues in rural healthcare, focusing on data collection and innovative financial models. ### Innovations, Trends, and Initiatives - **Rural Health IT Community**: Seeks to improve cybersecurity and operational security for rural healthcare organizations. - **Telehealth Expansion**: Research indicates that rural healthcare providers are losing patients to urban telehealth services, prompting calls for rural telehealth service enhancements. - **Rural Health Care Delivery Fund**: A fund in New Mexico providing financial support to rural healthcare providers to expand services. - **Remote Patient Monitoring**: Demonstrated success in improving health outcomes for chronic conditions in rural populations. - **Rural Health Grant**: MultiPlan Corporation's initiative to provide financial resources for rural healthcare providers to expand services. - **CAHE-RUC Initiatives**: Focus on cancer health disparities and improving health literacy in rural communities. - **Hospital-at-home Programs**: Effective in delivering personalized healthcare to rural patients, improving access and satisfaction. - **Telemedicine advancements**: Technological improvements enabling remote consultations and diagnoses, addressing access issues in rural areas. - **Mobile Healthcare Platforms**: Initiatives to create mobile healthcare solutions that deliver hospital-level care directly to underserved rural communities. - **Fidelis Care Grants**: Support health and wellness initiatives addressing barriers to healthcare access in rural areas. - **Remote Patient Monitoring Pilot**: Demonstrated significant success in improving health outcomes for chronic disease patients in rural Michigan. - **R-HEALE Program**: Aims to train medical students in rural healthcare, with a long-term goal of supporting 10 new students annually. - **Remote Patient Monitoring Access Act**: Legislation aimed at increasing reimbursement rates for remote patient monitoring in rural areas to improve access to care. - **ECHO Model**: Enhancing diabetes care among rural providers, demonstrating effective outcomes comparable to specialists. - **Cloud-based solutions**: Providing rural healthcare providers access to advanced technologies without high costs, enabling scalability. - **Telehealth Services**: Significant funding proposed for telehealth services in rural areas, including a Medicare telehealth waiver extension until 2026. - **Pro Smart Clinic**: A telehealth solution that allows remote medical exams, significantly increasing access to care and remote diagnoses in rural schools. ### Challenges and Concerns - **Health Disparities**: Rural populations experience higher health disparities, particularly in chronic disease management and access to care. - **Healthcare Access Disparities**: Rural communities face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services, often classified as healthcare deserts. - **Access disparities**: Rural populations experience significant barriers to healthcare access, including provider shortages and transportation issues. - **Healthcare Access**: Rural areas face significant shortages of primary care physicians and higher risks of chronic disease complications. - **Access Disparities**: Patients in rural areas often have limited access to healthcare services, exacerbated by hospital closures. - **Healthcare access disparities**: Rural Americans face higher mortality rates and barriers to care due to geographic isolation and financial constraints. - **Technology Gap**: Rural healthcare facilities struggle with outdated technology and inadequate funding, widening disparities in healthcare access. - **Infrastructure and Transportation Barriers**: Rural areas face outdated infrastructure and long travel distances, impacting healthcare access. - **Workforce Shortages**: Rural healthcare faces significant staffing shortages, impacting the delivery of care. - **Healthcare Deserts**: Many rural areas are classified as healthcare deserts, lacking access to essential medical services, exacerbated by a growing healthcare worker shortage. - **Financial challenges**: Rural healthcare providers face significant financial difficulties due to low patient volumes and reliance on Medicare/Medicaid. - **Nursing Shortage**: The nursing shortage significantly affects rural healthcare access, leading to limited provider availability for rural residents. - **Financial Constraints**: Rural health systems struggle with financial limitations that hinder investments in new technologies. - **Financial instability of rural hospitals**: 50% of rural hospitals operate at a loss, complicating recruitment and investment in technology. - **Financial Instability**: Many rural hospitals are financially struggling, leading to potential care deserts due to closures and service eliminations. - **Healthcare Professional Shortages**: Over 75% of rural counties in the U.S. are classified as health professional shortage areas, leading to delayed access to care. - **Financial Pressures and Staffing Shortages**: Rural healthcare providers face significant challenges including financial pressures and staffing shortages, impacting care access. - **Provider Shortages**: Rural areas face significant physician shortages, with many hospitals struggling to recruit and retain healthcare providers. - **Connectivity Issues**: Challenges related to internet connectivity hinder the implementation of digital health solutions in rural settings. ## Related Topics [[Rural Healthcare]]; [[Rural Healthcare Access]]; [[Rural Healthcare Challenges]]