Our Participating Programs and Sponsors

Ohio University HCOM

Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency – Swift River Rural Training Track

Colorado Family Medicine Residencies

Ohio University RUSP

Cahaba Medical Care

Spokane Teaching Health Center

Family Medicine Residency of Idaho

Oregon Health & Science University-Cascades East Family Medicine Residency

Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana

Providence Oregon Family Medicine Hood River Rural Training Program

Hidalgo Medical Services Family Medicine Residency Program

Wayne County Hospital RESST Program

UND Bismarck/Center for Family Medicine-Hettinger RTT & UND Minot/Williston Medical Center-Rural Residency

Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program

University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Family Medicine Residency

Registration is open for our 2024 Scholarly Intensive Seminar Series! Click HERE for more information!

The RTT Collaborative is excited to announce that we are hiring a part-time Associate Director!

More information can be found here: Associate-Director-open-position.pdf (185.78 KB pdf) !

Featured News Story

Annual Rural Photo Contest

Posted on: April 3, 2024

The Rural Medical Training Collaborative (formerly RTT Collaborative) invites you to participate in our annual rural photo contest. Each year we hold a “bragging rights” competition for the shutter bugs associated with our organization to showcase their best photos that represent rural healthcare and training. The deadline for submission is the end of April, but this year, for the first time ever, all entries that are submitted prior to the start of our annual meeting on April 10th, will be featured at the meeting and eligible to win the new “Rural Educators” award, to be selected by the attendees at the annual meeting in Asheville,
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RHIhub – The nation’s rural health library

Latest News

News stories via the Rural Health Information Hub News stories of interest to rural health, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub

Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.
on April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Offers review of a new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding staffing minimums in nursing homes. The new standard is expected to require most nursing homes to increase staff. Discusses the rural-specific timeline for meeting the standard in addition to the impact on wages, workforce shortages, and Medicaid reimbursement.
Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortage
on April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses recent research finding the shortage of primary care physicians is greater in rural areas. Includes analysis of findings by study authors, discussing rural-specific needs, Medicare reimbursement, and recruiting rural residents into healthcare.
Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed
on April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes the role community health workers play in re-entry for recently incarcerated rural Utah residents. Discusses the role of addiction in incarceration and how the program is funded.
Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workers
on April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Announces three rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services establishing national standards and increasing access to care. "Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes" aims to improve healthcare quality by setting minimum staffing standards for nursing staff, collecting and reporting on workforce compensation data, and offering incentives for the nurse workforce to work in nursing homes. The 2 remaining rules work together to establish national appointment wait time standards, address payment transparency, and create payment standards for workers providing home and community based services.
Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Access
on April 18, 2024 at 5:00 am
Highlights a program in a rural Nebraska school addressing access to food in the community. A partnership between the school and the village offers a non-profit grocery store that is run by the students and managed by the business teacher.
Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Care
on April 15, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses the social and economic factors contributing to early mortality for Native Americans. Highlights community health workers, food insecurity, generational trauma, and interventions attempting to reduce disparities.
Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
on April 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses population trends for Amish communities based on the need for land and healthcare. Notes that some rare genetic diseases are present in Amish populations and discusses healthcare access challenges related to insurance status and transportation. Highlights an Ohio clinic primarily treating Amish patients.
Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
on April 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Discusses the need for mental health services in schools and how states around the country have used Medicaid reimbursement to fund those services. Notes recent policy changes that have made this possible and highlights challenges that remain in using Medicaid reimbursement, particularly for rural school districts.
Promotoras Play Essential Role in Connecting Farmworkers with Health Care in Rural NorCal
on April 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
Highlights the work of promotoras in rural Northern California including assisting eligible residents with enrolling in Medicaid. Discusses the impact of Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs) on healthcare access, policy, and insurance access for undocumented farmworkers.
Sunsets, Wildlife and Limited Care: Challenges of Aging in Place in Rural America
on April 9, 2024 at 5:00 am
Describes the needs of older adults in rural communities, discussing access to support services, healthcare, and social engagement.

Helpful Resources

Rural resources via the Rural Health Information Hub Resources, reports, and other documents on rural health topics from a variety of sources, with information provided via the Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Maternal Health Series: Implementing Patient Safety Bundles in Rural Hospitals
on April 23, 2024 at 9:24 pm
Webinar recording, third of a 4-part series, discusses the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) bundles, a standardized set of processes for improving maternal healthcare quality and safety in rural hospitals. Features presentations from representatives of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM), the Iowa Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, and Gundersen Palmer Hospital in West Union, Iowa. -- Rural Health Information Hub
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency...
on April 23, 2024 at 6:51 pm
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule for minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. Details three core staffing proposals: 1) minimum nurse staffing standards; 2) a requirement to have an RN onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and 3) enhanced facility assessment requirements. Outlines a staggered implementation approach, including a later implementation date for rural facilities, and hardship exemption qualification requirements. Also describes Medicaid payment transparency reporting provisions for nursing and intermediate care facilities related to the percentage of Medicaid funds spent on compensation to direct care workers and support staff. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
With Current Staffing Levels, About 1 in 5 Nursing Facilities Would Meet Fully-Implemented Minimum Staffing Standards in the Final Rule
on April 23, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Describes a proposed federal standard for nursing home nurse staffing levels and analyzes current nursing home staffing levels, noting the percentage of facilities that will meet the proposed staffing level requirements when fully implemented.
Evaluation of Respondent-Driven Sampling in Seven Studies of People Who Use Drugs from Rural Populations: Findings from the Rural Opioid...
on April 23, 2024 at 4:55 pm
Examines the efficacy of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit people who use drugs (PWUD) in rural populations. Analyzes 7 Rural Opioid Initiative studies that occurred between 2018-2020 and performs statistical analyses to observe RDS-generated validity in population-level prevalence estimates.
Rural Maternal Health Series: Engaging with Perinatal Quality Collaboratives for Rural Hospitals
on April 23, 2024 at 3:53 pm
Webinar recording, second of a 4-part series, discusses the role Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) play in making improvements in maternal and infant healthcare and outcomes in rural hospitals. Features presentations from representatives of the CDC's Perinatal & Infant Health Team, Washington State Department of Health, and University of Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. -- Rural Health Information Hub
Service and Resource Sharing Approaches – Focus on the Public Health Workforce
on April 23, 2024 at 3:50 pm
A recorded webinar that discusses how public health departments can maximize efficiency through service and resource sharing. Focuses on workforce challenges such as capacity, the healthcare pipeline, recruitment, and retention; diversity, equity, and inclusion training; public trust; and more. Includes examples from rural public health systems. Transcript available in tool bar. -- Public Health Accreditation Board
2024 FORHP Preview Webinar
on April 23, 2024 at 3:24 pm
Recording of an April 3, 2024, webinar providing an overview of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and its priorities for 2024. HIghlights resources and anticipated funding opportunities to support rural hospitals, address substance use, advance rural community health, and address rural health workforce. -- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Meeting Essential Health Services And Reimagining Obstetrics In A Rural Community
on April 23, 2024 at 2:40 pm
Case study profiling Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) in rural Washington. Describes how KVH implemented a new staffing model to maintain essential obstetrics and gynecological care. -- American Hospital Association
Evaluating a Web-Based Training Curriculum for Disseminating Best Practices for the Care of Newborns with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal...
on April 22, 2024 at 9:22 pm
Evaluates the NOWS-NM program, a web-based training program for care of newborns with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) in rural New Mexico hospitals. Describes results of interviews with 16 providers on their experiences with NOWS and attitudes toward local NOWS treatment. Discusses stigma reduction and knowledge of non-pharmacologic NOWS treatment.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service Memorandum of Understanding - Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2023
on April 22, 2024 at 8:08 pm
Annual report details the accomplishments of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) via their memorandum of understanding. Highlights the ways the VA and IHS have worked together to deliver healthcare to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans and discusses future collaborations. -- Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs