CEO Update: A Season of Thanks

November is the traditional month of thanks and I would like to personally thank all of our members, partners, and supporters!  As we get closer to Thanksgivings, I’m reminded of the Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving show and the lessons we can take from our childhood stories about being grateful.

To get us into the holiday spirit, here is a clip where Snoopy, with his classic antics, is preparing a unique dinner for his friends.

During this time of year it’s especially important for us to remember the contribution of our rural farms to our dinner tables.  Colorado rural communities represent 31.6 million acres of farmland across the state, they produce $7 billion annually to the state’s economy, and the rural agriculture business provides over 105,000 jobs annually.  Whether you’re enjoying an office treat or sitting down to dinner with family and friends, be thankful of our rural farmers who contributed to your holiday.

At the CRHC, we are thankful of our members.  Without you, we would not be relevant and we’d like to express our deep gratitude for engaging in our programs, services, activities and events.   As our 2014 membership and sponsorship campaign is in full swing, we hope you feel that we are as valuable as we find you. 

Member participation in CRHC programs has been incredible and we’re excited to keep the momentum going in 2014.  This year nearly eight out of ten members participated in services, programs and activities and 100 percent actively subscribed to communications, like the Special Delivery. 

This year we measured the retention rates of those qualified healthcare providers that we’ve recruited to your communities and our rates are higher than the national average.  Since we have a high retention rate, our members asked us to expand our recruitment to include Allied Health Professionals. This new service rolled out earlier this month.   You are also helping raise awareness of the great work that is done in rural Colorado through your participation in the Improving Communications and Readmissions (iCARE) project.  This year 15 critical access hospitals (CAHs) and 12 rural health clinics (RHCs) participated, their average readmission rate is 5%.   RHCs are also focused on solidifying basic business operations through our Healthy Clinic Assessment.  We continue to offer you funding for emergency responders training, equipment as well as emergency preparedness.  We advocate for your communities and provide you with the most current information facing rural healthcare today; in a timely manner.  This is just the short list of what we do because we believe in what you do as rural healthcare facilities and providers.

This November, the staff at CRHC wants to thank you for choosing us to be your vehicle to strengthen healthcare in your communities.  Whether you’re reading this as a member, partner or supporter of rural health, we sincerely appreciate your engagement!

 

CRHC hires Outreach Coordinator Matt Enquist

Welcome Matt!

Matt works with the Outreach Department assembling grant proposals and writing, editing, designing and otherwise assisting with many of the organization’s publications. A native of Illinois, he graduated from Chicago’s North Park University and worked in the field of non-profit land conservation in Northeastern Illinois after graduation. He enjoys rock climbing and backpacking and is always planning another expedition.

Send Matt a welcome at me@coruralhealth.org.

 

10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

KNOW THE 10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE:

EARLY DETECTION MATTERS

Unfortunately, most Americans are unaware of the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia.  Specifically, and in addition to memory loss, behavioral changes like decreased judgment, difficulty in completing tasks, and withdrawal from activities may all be signs of Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association “Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters” campaign is designed to heighten awareness of the warning signs of this horrific disease and explain the benefits of early diagnosis.

This campaign encourages all Coloradoans to seek a diagnosis from a doctor if they exhibit any of the warning signs.  Early diagnosis provides individuals the access to prescribed medications, the chance to enroll in clinical trials of new treatment alternatives, and the opportunity to plan their own future as well as receive support from the Alzheimer’s Association. Early detection begins with awareness.   

Doctors can now diagnose Alzheimer’s with 90% accuracy. To understand what to look for, a thorough review of these 10 Warning Signs is essential.

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s:

1.    Memory changes that disrupt daily life; e.g., forgetting important dates, or asking for the same information over and over.

2.    Challenges planning and solving problems; e.g., unable to keep track of monthly bills, or unable to follow a familiar recipe.

3.    Difficulty completing familiar tasks; e.g., not being able to remember the rules of a familiar game, or having trouble driving to a familiar place.

4.    Confusion with time and place; e.g., not knowing the season, or not remembering how to get home.

5.    Trouble understanding spatial relationships or visual images; e.g., having difficulty reading, driving, or telling time.

6.    New problems with speaking or writing; e.g., calling objects by the wrong word, or not being able to complete a conversation.

7.    Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps; e.g., finding car keys in the oven, or becoming paranoid that others may be stealing.

8.    Decreased or poor judgment; e.g., mismanaging money, or paying less attention to grooming and hygiene.

9.    Withdrawal from work or social activities; e.g. not attending club meetings or church, or no longer having an interest in a favorite sports team.

10. Changes in mood or personality; e.g., becoming more confused, suspicious, fearful or agitated.

For those individuals reaching the age of 65, when one in eight will be diagnosed, there are things that may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. While we can’t prevent Alzheimer’s Disease, here are a few tips for “brain health” as we age:

·         adopt a diet of low fat, high antioxidants, and high omega-3 foods;

·         exercise your brain with puzzles, Sudoku, math, and socializing with others;

·         stay active and physically fit;

·         lower your cholesterol;

·         maintain a normal blood pressure;

·         reduce your risk for stroke;

·         watch your sugar levels, and reduce your risk for diabetes;

·         promote good circulation; and

·         manage your stress -- find effective ways to relax. 

Every single day, science unlocks more mysteries of the brain.  But, we do not have all the answers yet.  What we do know is, like other parts of the body, the brain may lose some agility as we get older.  And, it can deteriorate even more without care.  A good rule to remember:  WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOUR HEART IS GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN. 

For anyone with questions or concerns, the Alzheimer’s Association provides free counseling, information and resources, educational classes and community presentations, and assistance.  In Colorado, please feel free to call our 24-hour Helpline at 800-272-3900 and via our Website at www.alz.org/co. 

Serving all metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas in the state, the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has office locations which include Denver, Colorado Springs, Durango, Grand Junction, Evans for Northeast Colorado, and Pueblo for Southern Colorado.

No one has to take this journey alone. Individuals, family caregivers, and professionals are all encouraged to reach out for help. 

Submitted by:

Ann Carter, MPA, Regional Director, Southern Colorado / Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter / 4104 Outlook Boulevard, Bldg. B, Pueblo, Colorado 81008 / 719-544-5720 / 800.272.3900 HELPLINE / alz.org/co 

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Caregiver Month. In the United States, there are more than 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers. 

Post a tribute for a caregiver in your life: www.alz.org/nadam

A Word from our Classic Sponsor: COPIC

COPIC Funds Study to Find Correlations Between Rural Physician Retention and Community Engagement

Physician workforce retention in rural areas is a vital part of the health and well-being of a rural community, which is why the COPIC Medical Foundation has partnered with the Colorado Rural Health Center and the University of Denver to provide funding for a study that identifies correlations between rural physician retention and the level of community integration. The project will assess the perceived value in rural physicians’ community engagement skills in relation to long-term retention of physicians in rural Colorado communities. Twelve rural Colorado communities are being invited to participate in the study. Initial results should be available in early 2014.

Enhanced community engagement skills improve the ability of the physician, and his or her family, to relate within a small, close knit rural community as home, while increasing the physician’s confidence and ability to work within a community to address the needs of the community outside of the medical practice. Data obtained will be used to create a curriculum in community engagement in the Healthcare Leadership program at the University of Denver and to supplement the rural track medical student curriculum at the University of Colorado.

“The knowledge gained from the study will be collated into a final report which we will share with the rural communities. Our goal is to provide information and opportunity that prepares students to engage in rural communities, assists practicing physicians in becoming more engaged, and assists the communities in finding ways to facilitate engagement,” said Dr. Irene Frederick, physician and principle investigator of the study as well as Academic Director, Healthcare Leadership at the University of Denver. “Ultimately, we hope these changes will improve trust between physicians and communities, resulting in long term retention of the physician in the community.”

Member of the Month: St. Vincent Hospital

Leadville, Colorado is located in Lake County, nestled among the highest peaks in Colorado. Leadville has a rich history spanning more than 150 years, beginning in the 1860s with the discovery of gold. Within the first five years of the gold rush, over $4 million in gold was discovered! By the late 1880s, Leadville had more than 30,000 residents. Also notable in the town’s history was the Tabor Opera House which featured the world-famous Harry Houdini, British wit Oscar Wilde and actress Sara Bernhardt. Leadville has preserved much of its history, declaring areas of the town as National Historic Landmark of Victorian Architecture, historic mining district, railroad and more museums than any town in Colorado. To read about the unique history of the first hospital in Leadville, click here.  

St. Vincent Hospital – a 25 bed Critical Access Hospital - is located at 10,152 feet elevation. As the primary healthcare facility in the area, St. Vincent serves much of the surrounding rural areas of Lake County (county population of 7,564). St. Vincent provides general medical services for a wide variety of acute illnesses, as well as post-operative surgical care, long term care, home health care and emergency services. St. Vincent Hospital prides itself at exceling to meet the diverse healthcare needs of a population that changes with the season. The goal at St. Vincent Hospital is to provide an atmosphere that promotes well-being. To learn about current hospital initiatives under way, click here.

Lake County Health Rankings and Health Outcomes:

·         The ratio of population to primary care physicians is 3,645:1.

·         Mammography screening (% of females receive screening) 76.6%, which is 12% higher than state average.

·         Lake County has 18.2% of families living below poverty level.

·         High school graduation rate of 89% (15% ABOVE state average).

·         High rate of uninsured (under 65) 27.2% (10% above state average).

·         Lower percentage of adults with diabetes (4.4% versus state average of 6%).

·         Obesity rate of 17.7% (under the Healthy People 2020 Target of 30% and under the state average of 19.9%).

·         Population of Lake County receiving water fluoridation is 2.9% (compared to state average of 73% and the Colorado 10 Winnable Battle Target of 75% by 2016).

·         Overall, Lake County’s top positive health indicators are low flu hospitalizations in seniors, low Pertussis cases, low West Nile virus incidence, low infant mortality and low violent crime rate.

St. Vincent Hospital has been a CRHC member for many years. Currently, St. Vincent is a participant in the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant, which is a statewide collaborative project focusing on creating and refining quality improvement systems and processes with the goal of meeting electronic health record (EHR) Meaningful Use criteria.

In addition, St. Vincent works closely with CRHC’s Colorado Provider Recruitment Program to recruit and retain dedicated and qualified healthcare professionals who are committed to practicing in rural areas. Currently Colorado Provider Recruitment is recruiting for a Family Physician. For more information about Colorado Provider Recruitment, click here.

The Colorado Rural Health Center is proud to partner with St. Vincent Hospital to support health and well-being for the individuals and families of Lake County. To nominate a CRHC member for recognition as the next member of the month, please complete this form. 


Fun fact about Leadville, CO...A film crew was in town last month filming commercials for Dodge Ram and Jeep Cherokee. Have you seen them yet?

Celebrate Rural Health Day! Open House Thurs. 2-5pm

The Colorado Rural Health Center would like to invite our partners, members, neighbors and others interested in learning more about rural health to an open house in celebration of National Rural Health Day.

Come by to chat with our staff over hot cocoa and treats on November 21st, 2013 between 2-5pm.

National Rural Health Day is an opportunity to celebrate rural communities across the nation and here in Colorado as great places to live and work. The day also gives us a chance to highlight the specific health challenges that rural communities all across Colorado face. Come by and learn about what the Colorado Rural Health Center is doing to address the healthcare needs of rural Coloradans.

 

Kids and family are welcome! Kids are encouraged to participate in the National Rural Health Day Coloring Contest. We’ll have entry forms and art supplies on hand for kids to draw a picture and write about ways they stay healthy in their community. The winning pictures will be featured on our website, Facebook page, and other media outlets!

The open house will include a tour of the CRHC office with mini exhibit displays set up for you to learn more about CRHC programs and services, provider recruitment program, membership and much more.

Open House
Thursday November 21^st, 2013
2:00-5:00 PM

 

Please email RSVPs to Amanda Emerson at ae@coruralhealth.org or call 303.832.7493 if you know you plan on swinging by. It’s not necessary to RSVP, but it will help us prepare. We look forward to seeing you! Please forward to others in your organization interested in attending. 

Directions: 

3033 S. Parker Rd., Ste. 606,
Aurora, CO 80014

From the North (Denver): Take I-25 South to I-225. Exit I-225 at Parker Road. Turn left (north) onto Parker Rd. Turn left onto Dartmouth Ave. (left is Dartmouth, right is Cornell Ave.). Turn right into Marketplace Towers. We are located in Tower I, closest to Dartmouth.

From the South (Colorado Springs): Take I-25 North to I-225. Exit I-225 at Parker Road. Turn left (north) onto Parker Rd. Turn left onto Dartmouth Ave. (left is Dartmouth, right is Cornell Ave.). Turn right into Marketplace Towers. We are located in Tower I, closest to Dartmouth.

Parking: Please park in the spaces marked “Visitor Parking”

Think Rural. Think Health. Think Support.

Think Rural. As we approach 2014 - facing new challenges and opportunities - it is more important than ever that we continue to be able to support and advocate on behalf of the rural healthcare safety net.  CRHC is committed to connecting its members with resources and information to stay informed during this challenging time. Many of the programs and services directly affect the individuals and families living in these rural communities.  For instance, a few months ago a rural site received a CRHC funded automated external defibrillator (AED).  Shortly after receiving the AED, a male patient entered the clinic complaining of chest pains – coded – and the nurse immediately grabbed the AED.  It is hard to think about the outcome had the AED not been installed. “Think Rural” is who we serve!  

Think Health. We are guided strongly by our vision of ensuring all Coloradoans have access to affordable, comprehensive, high quality healthcare.  For example, did you know…of the ten counties in Colorado with the highest rates of uninsured adults, nine of those counties are rural – or that on average, recruiting a physician to a rural community takes at least one year – or the five counties with the highest percentage of children living in poverty are rural or frontier counties.  These rural and frontier communities face unique healthcare needs and CRHC is committed to addressing these issues to ensure these communities remain wonderful places to live, work and visit.  “Think Health” is why we do it!    

Think Support. CRHC is well positioned to provide support to ensure access to healthcare for all Coloradans, and we recognize our work would be impossible without support from our industry partners. We ask you to consider Modern Sponsorship – our highest and most needed sponsorship level – which includes an extensive benefit package and the opportunity to significantly impact healthcare services available in rural Colorado. Alternatively, you may wish to consider Classic Sponsorship, which also connects your organization to facilities in need of your products and services. “Think Support” is how we can impact rural health together!    

Please feel free to contact Melissa Bosworth, Director of Workforce and Outreach (mb@coruralhealth.org, or 720.248.2750) if you have questions about sponsorship.

 

Are you a CRHC Member?

It is that time of year again! Membership Renewal! Current CRHC members should have received their annual membership renewal invoices in mid-October. Please send in your renewal forms at your earliest convenience to ensure your member benefits remain in effect.

Alternatively, you may renew online. If you have questions, contact Bridgette at bo@coruralhealth.org or call 303.832.7493. 

Not a member? Learn more about CRHC membership and the benefits of becoming a member at www.coruralhealth.org/membership.

Kaiser gives $400K grant to rural health centers

Colorado Rural Health Center today announced a $416,000, three-year grant from Kaiser Permanente Colorado that will help some of Colorado's rural health clinics improve quality of care.

The grant will provide assistance to 19 rural clinics, located mainly on the Western Slope. Exactly which clinics will benefit is not yet known.

Each clinic will begin by conducting a Health Clinic Assessment to identify the greatest areas of need. Then, Colorado Rural Health Center will work with clinics to help them implement systems and processes to strengthen the infrastructure of the clinic. Read the full story here.

CRHC releases issue paper “Improving Communications and Readmissions”

Click here to read the CRHC’s latest issue paper on Improving Communications and Readmissions.

Increasing hospital concerns prompt new security measure

Violent crime isn’t limited to schools and major public-gathering areas. Hospitals across Colorado and American are seeing an increase in attacks made by patients on workers and by outsiders on patients. As such, many are adding metal detectors and offering staff security training in order to empower them. But one Denver hospital’s plans demonstrates the newest wave of security and how it can allow hospitals to react more nimbly and quickly to high-alert situations. Click here to read the full article by Ed Sealover with the Denver Business Journal.

National Rural Health Day Webinars

National Rural Health Day events are being planned nationwide by SORHs and others on November 21. As in year's past, NOSORH will host a series of free webinars on National Rural Health Day. Scheduled topics, times, and speakers include:

• AgriSafe: Protecting the People Who Feed America (Noon EST) – Natalie Roy, Executive Director and Carolyn Sheridan, Clinical Director, AgriSafe Network (Registration: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/491563334)
• Rural 101: The Basics of Rural Health (1:00 EST) – Kristine Sande, Program Director, Rural Assistance Center (Registration: https://nosorh.webex.com/nosorh/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=660990830)
• Population Based Health and Health Promotion in Rural (2:00 p.m. EST) – Lynda Bergsma, Program Director, Arizona Center of Rural Health; Caroline Ford, Former Director, Nevada State Office of Rural Health (Registration: https://nosorh.webex.com/nosorh/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=666479151)
• The Affordable Care Act in Rural America (3:00 p.m. EST) - Tom Morris, Associate Administrator, Deepti Loharikar, Public Health Analyst, and Aaron Fischbach, Public Health Analyst, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (Registration: https://nosorh.webex.com/nosorh/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=666426441)
• Resources for Recruitment, Networking, and Telehealth (4:00 p.m. EST) - Mike Shimmens, Executive Director, National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network; Rebecca Davis, Executive Director, National Cooperative of Health Networks Association; Kathy Hsu Wibberly, Director, Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (Registration: https://nosorh.webex.com/nosorh/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=664434416)

NOSORH is also planning to host a National Rural Health Day Press Conference/Celebration at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. at 10:00 a.m. EST on November 21; details will be forthcoming. To learn more about National Rural Health Day, visit http://celebratepowerofrural.org; to learn more about NOSORH, visit www.nosorh.org.

National Rural Health Day to be Celebrated November 21

For the third consecutive year, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and all 50 State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) will join forces with other local, state, and national rural healthcare providers and stakeholders to celebrate National Rural Health Day. This year's celebration will take place on Thursday, November 21.

America's rural communities face unique healthcare concerns: a lack of healthcare providers; accessibility issues, particularly in terms of transportation and technology; and affordability issues as the result of larger percentages of un-/underinsured citizens and greater out-of-pocket health costs, to name a few. Meanwhile, rural hospitals and health systems face declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels that make it challenging to meet the physical, social and economic needs of their communities. Read more here.

Colorado survey reveals disparities in medical care for minorities

Black Coloradans see the doctor less frequently, get less preventive care and report being in worse health than other residents of the state, according to a recent health survey.

The biennial Colorado Health Access Survey, which polled 10,224 households between April 15 and July 27, provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots of how Colorado residents experience the health care system. Read the full article here.

National Rural Health Week Proclamation for Pennsylvania

In an effort to draw attention to the wide range of issues that impact rural health, November 18-22, 2013 has been declared Pennsylvania Rural Health week by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett. The request for the proclamation was made by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. Governor Tom Corbett made the proclamation to promote awareness of the full range of issues that impact rural health care throughout the Commonwealth and the health status of rural Pennsylvanians. Read the full proclamation here.

The aging of rural primary care physicians

More primary care physicians are retiring in rural America just as the need for care is expanding and fewer medical-school graduates are going into primary care. A federally funded study shows remote counties are likely to feel the impact the worst. Primary care is the foundation of the rural health care workforce. However, a substantial percentage of primary care providers (PCPs) in the United States are approaching retirement age at the same time that fewer new U.S. medical graduates (USMGs) are opting for primary care specialties. Shortages related to retirement will coincide with accelerating demand for health care as the number of Americans aged 65 and older doubles between 2000 and 2030 and additional millions receive health insurance coverage through provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Click here to read the full article by Meredith Fordyce, Doescher and Skillman. 

Job Opportunities

Want to be a part of reducing domestic violence in Colorado? Or maybe helping to make Lake County a healthier place is a better fit? Either way, there are positions that might work for you!

The Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence is hiring two positions:

Statewide Rural Coordinated Community Response Project Manager

Statewide Rural Latino Outreach Project Manager

Additionally, the Colorado Department of Human Services is hiring a Domestic Violence Program Manager.

Lastly, Lake County Health and Human Services, Build a Generation is hiring a Youth Master Plan / LiveWell Leadville Launch Coordinator.

Best wishes in finding the position that is the right fit for you.

Nursing school grants for scholarships, apply by 1/9

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing
Grant or contract
Grants to schools of nursing to provide scholarships to college graduates without nursing degrees who are enrolled in accelerated baccalaureate and master's nursing programs.
Geographic Coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: January 9, 2014
Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
view details

Nurse faculty opportunities, due 2/12

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars Program
Grant or contract
Provides grants to institutions to support career development, mentorship, research, and salary for junior nurse faculty members.
Geographic Coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: February 12, 2014
Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
view details

Nurse faculty opportunities, due 12/31

Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy (NFLA)
Educational opportunity
Provides an experiential learning program for new nurse faculty members who are developing their leadership skills as they transition to the faculty role.
Geographic Coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: December 31, 2013
Sponsor: Sigma Theta Tau International: Honor Society of Nursing
view details

Nurse Practitioners love their jobs, for now

Unlike physicians and RNs, nurse practitioners report remarkably high levels of job satisfaction thanks to a rise in opportunities to practice independently, and confidence that their earning power will increase.

A small survey gauging job satisfaction among nurse practitioners [PDF] found that 100% of them are upbeat about their profession. Read the full story here.

Staffing the hospital of tomorrow

A few years ago, hospital leaders like William Leaver were hiring radiologists, cardiologists and other specialists to maximize fee-for-service payments. Today, the CEO of Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Healthcare seeks patient navigators, care coordinators and mid-level nurse practitioners to guide patients' care outside its 30 hospitals. Read the full article here.

Safety-net mental health clinics struggle with recruitment, retention

High turnover rates at community mental health centers were the norm a decade ago, with some Colorado safety-net clinics reporting 34 percent of clinicians leaving each year.

The trend has reversed at some centers, where managers have improved recruitment and retention by focusing on improved work conditions and benefits for employees who treat low-income and uninsured patients who often have been referred there after a mental health emergency. Read more here.

Ty Cobb regional displays new look of rural healthcare

Like other rural facilities across the county, Ty Cobb Healthcare System (Royston, Ga.) felt the pressures of providing rural healthcare in a modern age: rising costs, funding shortages, increasing competition, and a shrinking medical staff population. According to the National Rural Health Association, only about 10 percent of physicians practice in rural America despite the fact that nearly one-fourth of the population lives in these areas. Faced with these challenges, many rural healthcare facilities decide to close their doors or consider affiliating themselves with a larger system. Click here to read the full article by Anne DiNardo.

Roundup: Cost of Rural Health Insurance

Rural residents paying more for insurance, NY Times reports • Google gives $2 million grant to rural broadband project • Colorado secession faces local opposition • Rural Virginia voters not backing GOP candidate at usual levels. Click here to read more from these select articles posted via About the Daily Yonder, an online publication focusing on rural issues.

HRRMC Foundation awards two scholarships

Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center Foundation has awarded two $2,500 scholarships, to Caitlyn Wagener of Buena Vista and Debbie Eggleston of Howard, for education in the health care field. Proceeds from the 2012 Jewel Ball funded the scholarships. Wagener is a sophomore at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and is studying for a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Eggleston, a nurse in HRRMC’s emergency department, is working toward a Master of Science in Nursing from Regis University in Denver.

The HRRMC Foundation scholarship is available to any college student who lives or has lived within the Salida Hospital District, which encompasses all of Chaffee County, western Fremont and northern Saguache counties. Applicants must already have earned a minimum of 24 college-credit hours. Applications for the 2014 scholarship will be available next May with a due date of June 16, 2014. For more information, call HRRMC Foundation Director Kimla Robinson at 719-530-2218. View article as posted on chaffeecountytimes.com.

2D or Not To Be! (Telluride Medical Center)

Town of Telluride Ballot Issue 2D is important for the residents of the Town of Telluride for many reasons. In particular it is of interest to those who support keeping the Telluride Medical Center in the town of Telluride. This is it! The RV lot is the only parcel of land left in the Town of Telluride that has the potential to be a home for the future medical center. This is a logical location for access to all the hospital district’s residents with its close proximity to downtown pharmacies, grocery stores and easy access to public transportation like the gondola and bus. The medical center sees 14,000 visits a year, 20 percent from tourists. This would be a lot of traffic out of town if the TMC was not on the gondola route. We also have over 40 employees – all of which bring revenue to the Town of Telluride. Read more on this story written by Sharon Grundy, M.D. at Watch Newspapers - 2D or Not To Be.

The Aging of the Rural Primary Care Physician Workforce: Will Some Locations Be More Affected than Others?

As the aging primary care provider population retires, rural provider shortages will be further exacerbated. Identifying states and counties that are at particularly high risk for primary care physician (PCP) attrition through retirement can help inform policy and planning decisions in an effort to avoid PCP shortages in these vulnerable locations. This study identified rural locations with high proportions of generalist physicians nearing retirement age using data from the American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association 2005 Masterfiles. Click here to read the full article from the Rural Health Research and Policy Centers.

AANP has launched a national NP

AANP has launched a national NP branding and awareness multi-media campaign designed to educate members of Congress, key health care decision makers and consumers on the important role of NPs. The campaign runs from October 7 - November 15 and consists of: read more here.

Health equity and racial and ethnic workforce diversity

To achieve health equity, health care organizations need to diversify their staff. Diversifying the health care workforce has been shown to help improve access to health and health care for communities of color. Developing a health care workforce that reflects the racial and ethnic composition of the population is vital to building rapport and trust with communities of color, assuring effective communication and improving care. Read more here.

What doctor shortage? Some experts say changes in delivery will erase need for more physicians

You've heard the grim prognosis many times before. Unless immediate action is taken, the U.S. supply of doctors will be 91,500 short of the number needed by 2020 and 130,600 physicians short by 2025, according to an Association of American Medical Colleges estimate. Read the full story here.

North Carolina’s newest medical school focuses on rural

Campbell University President Jerry Wallace had been waiting for this moment for four years.

“There it is,” he said. “The beautiful Leon Levine Hall of Medical Science. It’s already working to make a difference in our state.” Read the full story here.

Clinical management apps: Creating partnerships between providers and patients

Clinical Management Apps: Creating Partnerships Between Providers and Patients

Reflecting on health reform: A tale of two IT procurements

Last week, the president of the United States, the most powerful person on earth, the man whose finger rests on the nuclear button, struck a bold blow for . . . procurement reform?

"There are a whole range of things that we're going to need to do once we get [the Affordable Care Act (ACA) rollout] fixed—to talk about federal procurement when it comes to IT and how that's organized," the president said on November 4, speaking to a group of donors and supporters. Read the full article here.

CMS unveils tool allowing researchers to access federal healthcare data

Health services researchers eager for cheaper, timelier and more accessible federal healthcare data had reason to celebrate Tuesday, when the CMS unveiled a tool to make such information much more readily available. Read the full article here.

Aligning Federal and State efforts on payment reform

AligningFederal and State Efforts on Payment Reform

Health overhaul debate snags compounding bill

A year after a meningitis outbreak from contaminated pain injections killed at least 64 people and sickened hundreds, Congress is ready to increase federal oversight over compounding pharmacies that custom-mix medications. Read the full story here.

Poorer women delay examination of breast lumps, study suggests

Younger women with limited finances are more likely than others to delay seeking medical attention after finding an abnormality in their breast, according to a new study.

The study of nearly 600 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer suggested that strategies to improve early diagnosis of breast cancer should take a woman's financial situation into account. Click here to read more.

F.D.A. ruling would all but eliminate trans fats

The Food and Drug Administration proposed measures on Thursday that would all but eliminate artery-clogging, artificial trans fats from the food supply, the culmination of three decades of effort by public health advocates to get the government to take action against them.

Artificial trans fats — a major contributor to heart disease in the United States — have already been substantially reduced in foods. But they still lurk in many popular products, like frostings, microwave popcorn, packaged pies, frozen pizzas, margarines and coffee creamers. Banning them completely could prevent 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year, the F.D.A. said. read the full article here.

6 Reasons why Clinicians like vendor-neutral archives

Many hospital leaders already support the use of vendor-neutral archives, which allow images and documents to be stored in a standardized format so they are accessible to a variety of systems, as they often lead to cost savings and increased institutional efficiency. Clinicians see advantages in VNA technology in their day-to-day work as well, according to a HIMSSwire report.

The advantages for clinicians include:

Mobile capabilities. VNAs combined with universal viewers allow physicians to view documents or images on any device, including smartphones or iPads.

Facilitated collaboration. VNA technology allows clinicians to more easily share documents or images with colleagues to get a second opinion.

Find out about the remaining four by clicking here.

Data breach at North Country Hospital Due to PHI on "retired" laptop

North Country Hospital in Newport, Vt., has alerted patients to a data breach resulting from a former hospital employee having possession of a retired laptop containing patients' health information.

Hospital officials believe the former employee has the ability to access the password-protected information, and have demanded the employee return the laptop. Despite the involvement of law enforcement agencies, the hospital has been unable to recover the laptop, and opted to disclose the breach per HHS regulations. Read the full story here.

Obama apologizes to people losing health coverage

Bowing to intense criticism, President Barack Obama apologized to Americans who are losing health insurance plans he repeatedly said they could keep and pledged to find fixes that might allow people to keep their coverage.

"I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me," he said in an interview Thursday with NBC News.

He added: "We've got to work hard to make sure that they know we hear them, and we are going to do everything we can to deal with folks who find themselves in a tough position as a consequence of this. Read more here.

Problems with federal health portal also stymie Medicaid enrollment

Problems with the federal health insurancewebsite have prevented tens of thousands of low-income people from signing up for Medicaid even though they are eligible, federal and state officials say, undermining one of the chief goals of the 2010health care law. Read more here.

5 key findings about PPACA Federal Exchange Health Plan offerings

The federal health insurance exchange offers health plans that are competitive, affordable and consistently meet minimum requirements, according to an analysis conducted by management consultant Abhay Padgaonkar of Innovative Solutions Consulting.

Mr. Padgaonkar examined county-level data available through HealthCare.gov, combined with demographic data from data solutions firm Synergos Technologies. Here are some of his key findings.

1. The average monthly premium for adults aged 50 or older for the second-lowest-cost silver plan is $386.

2. The average premium for the least expensive bronze plan is $174 for people under 50.

Find out more by clicking here.