Rural Spotlight

Upcoming Events

Coming Soon: National Health Service Corps Part-Time Service Option

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC), through scholarship and loan repayment programs, helps Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the U.S. get the medical, dental and mental health providers they need to meet their tremendous need for health care.  These programs are designed to improve the supply of physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse-midwives in both rural and urban underserved areas. 

NHSC is an important source of primary care for rural areas, as approximately 60% of the NHSC’s placements are in rural areas and many Scholar or Loan Repayors who begin working in rural areas choose to continue their careers in those areas.  Up until now, all of the NHSC Scholars and Loan Repayors were required to work full-time in an underserved community and 32 of the minimum 40-hour work week must be spent providing direct clinical services in the community.

Starting in March 2010, clinicians working part-time (20 to 39 hours each week, at least 45 weeks each year) at NHSC-approved facilities will be eligible to apply to the National Health Service Corps demonstration program for the Part-time Loan Repayment.

The criteria for the Part-Time Demonstration Program will be comparable to the current NHSC Loan Repayment Program. Below are some specifics about the program:

• Four year service commitment for $50,000
• Potential for additional years of support - 2 year service contract
• Application Period open for 30 days
• 400 awards anticipated
• Same eligible disciplines as full-time Loan Repayment Program (see Application Information Bulletin: Eligibility)

For more information please visit the NHSC Web site.

HVP (Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein) Recall

Basic Food Flavors of Las Vegas, Nevada has recalled all of the hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) it has produced in powder and paste form it has produced since September 17, 2009, due to potential contamination with salmonella.  HVP goes into many other products such as dips, dressings, sauces, gravies, chili, soups, seasonings, hot dogs, seasoned snack foods, and seasoning mixes to enhance flavor and texture of processed foods.  For some processed foods that contain HVP, they also receive a thorough cook, and thus an adequate “kill step” for salmonella.  For some foods such as dip mixes containing HVP, or seasoned snack foods containing HVP, there is no kill step, and thus a potential for consumers being exposed to salmonella in the food.  Various companies have begun issuing recalls because their products contain HVP produced by Basic Food Flavors, Inc.  FDA is also recommending recalls of certain products containing HVP that might be eaten by consumers without any processing or cooking steps to address the potential risk. There is the potential for this to continue for an extended time due to the vast number of products containing HVP.  There is a searchable database of recalled products on FDA’s website at www.fda.gov  which will be updated as new products are added to the recall.  We suggest that agencies review the list of products a couple of times a week and to be aware of the potential for illness related to consumption of products with HVP produced by Basic Food Flavors, Inc.  At this time there are no reported illnesses associated with this contamination. 

If the situation changes dramatically, and DHSS is aware of illnesses associated with products containing contaminated HVP and distributed in Missouri, we will issue a recall about these specific products and the most complete distribution information that we receive. 

Please visit our websites for further information regarding food safety.
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/EHOG_manual/
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/EnvironmentalChildCare/
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/FoodSafety/
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Lodging/
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Lead/
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Onsite/

K2 Synthetic Marijuana Use Among Teenagers and Young Adults in Missouri

Updated information is available on the synthetic marijuana product, K2. Information includes signs and symptoms that present with the use of K2, and recommendations by the Missouri Regional Poison Center.

Click here for more information.

Rural Hospital Presentations

Click this link to find the 2010 catalog of presentations geared exclusively to rural hospitals.

“We do not endorse this company or products, we are only sharing information”

Handbook for Rural Health Care Ethics

A Practical Guide for Professionals

The Handbook For Rural Health Care Ethics uses a case-based approach to analyzing, solving and anticipating health care ethics dilemmas. The Handbook is authored by physicians, nurses, health-care ethicists, and hospital administrators who all had scholarship or expertise in rural ethics, and was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine. Read more by clicking here.

Practitioner Data Banks Expansion

HRSA has announced that the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) has been expanded through new funding.  Find out more about the data bank and recent changes by clicking here.

SGR Update

From: Bill Finerfrock

On March 2, 2010 the Senate passed by a vote of 78-19 the 30 day extension of the SGR freeze.  The bill will now go to the President for his signature. The legislation extends the Medicare payment freeze (thereby temporarily voiding the 21% reduction) through March 31.  In addition, the legislation extends the Therapy Cap exception process through March 31. Because this is only a temporary, stop-gap measure, Congress will have to pass either another extension or a permanent fix for both of these issues otherwise the 21% cut and resumption of the Therapy Cap for all will occur on April 1.

Rural Nursing Residency Programs Becoming Available

Idaho State University is just one location that is now offering a rural nurse residency program. The program is part of an effort to improve competency and retention among nurses. Learn more about the program by clicking here.

H1N1 Response Summary

The Department of Health and Senior Services' Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism has a newly updated response summary for the recent H1N1 outbreak. The six page brief is an overview of Missouri’s response effort during the H1N1 pandemic.  This updated version captures the broader public health and partner contributions to the overall response to the H1N1 pandemic. 

Read the response summary by clicking here.

Quality in Health Care

PubHub has made the following reports available:

Using Professionally Trained Interpreters to Increase Patient/Provider Satisfaction: Does It Work? 
 
Examines the need for trained medical interpreters by comparing the satisfaction of emergency room patients, doctors, and triage and discharge nurses when provided with interpreters and when provided only with telephone language lines or ad hoc services.

Modest and Uneven: Physician Efforts to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Documents limited adoption of recommended practices for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care, including interpreter services, training in minority health, and quality of care reports for minority patients. Considers policy implications.

Covering Children at the Top of Public Priorities for Health Reform
 
Presents survey results on public support for ten health reform provisions, including mandated children's coverage, funding to states to create insurance exchanges, expansion of Medicaid to childless adults, payment reforms, and insurance market reforms.  

International Developments in Self-Directed Care
 
Highlights innovative self-directed care programs in Europe and the United States that allow patients to choose home and community-based services, within a budget, in managing mental illness and chronic conditions. Examines outcomes and lessons learned.

Creating a Palliative Care Program: Insights From Hospital Leaders
 
Outlines benefits to hospitals in creating palliative care programs, such as cost savings and shorter hospital stays, as well as implementation challenges, such as overcoming resistance. Provides case summaries, questions to consider, and a resource list.
 
How Will Comparative Effectiveness Research Affect the Quality of Health Care?
 
Outlines how the use of comparative effectiveness research on the relative merits of a healthcare intervention compared with others could improve quality of care and outcomes. Presents challenges in enhancing CE research and expanding its adoption.