Rural Health Workforce Ready

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) released a Rural Health Workforce Ready report featuring successes  from their pilot workforce development program aimed at addressing the state’s workforce shortages.

The program launched in West Tennessee with funding from Delta Regional Authority and Amerigroup before expanding to other parts of the state. Over the past two years, RHA has assisted more than 300 aspiring healthcare professionals seeking certification and employment. To support career pathway development, RHA partnered with K-12 schools and community colleges to train more than 700 students in goal setting, healthcare careers, and communication skills.

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Tennessee Brighter Futures ACEs

Brain Links is sharing a brief set of resources with partners as part of Tennessee Disability Coalition’s Tennessee Brighter Futures (TBF) Collaborative. The mission of TBF is Building brighter futures for Tennesseans by improving how systems of support collaborate to identify, educate and serve people with co-occurring needs.

The Collaborative meets every other month to learn about the intersections between brain injury and other systems of support and have a speaker from one of the systems present to our group. We learn more from each system as we go and we actively exchange resources like infographics, websites, screening tools and training to share to support one another and ultimately, better support those we serve.  

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Rural Health Day on the Hill

RHA members and staff traveled to Nashville for the Rural Health Association's Day on the Hill March 7th, 2023. While there, RHA met with several members of Tennessee's legislative branch to talk Rural Health Workforce, Rural Health Clinic Modernization, and Maternal Health. 

A special thanks to the following offices for meeting with us:   

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Dr. Brenda Jones Testifies on importance of Doulas

Rural Health Association of Tennessee’s (RHA) Board Secretary, Dr. Brenda Jones, testified February 28th in from of  the Tennessee Senate’s Commerce and Labor Committee in support of Senate Bill 394/HB 738 that would establish a recognized Doula certification.

Dr. Jones is an assistant professor at Lee University, a CNM, FNP, Public Health Professional, residing in Bradley County, TN. Throughout her career as a Certified Nurse Midwife, she has attended over 2,500 deliveries. Dr. Jones’ full testimony can be viewed below along with a handout highlighting maternal health in Tennessee.

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Maternal Health Policy Brief

Tennessee has among the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the nation. RHA advocates for programs and

policies that prevent teenage pregnancy, provides case management services to pregnant women, and advances professional knowledge of providers.

RHA has published a Maternal Health in Tennessee policy brief modeled after the National Rural Health Association's 2021 Rural Obstetric Unit Closures and Maternal and Infant Health.

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National Rural Health Policy Institute

RHA members and staff traveled to Washington D.C. for the National Rural Health Association's Policy Institute February 7th - 9th 2023. While there, RHA met with several members of Tennessee's congressional delegation to talk Rural Hospitals, Rural Health Clinic Modernization, and Maternal Health.

A special thanks to the following offices for meeting with us:

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2022 Annual Report

RHA is delighted to share a summary of our member events and  programs for 2022. Thank you to our members, staff, funders, and many community partners for your support the past year!

Click here to view the online report
Click here to download a PDF of the report

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Membership Orientation

Join us!                                    

You are invited to learn more about RHA's mission, programs, and volunteer opportunities. Agenda topics include: 

—     RHA’s History, Mission, Vision, Values
 —     Benefits of Membership
 —     RHA Staff and Programs
 —     RHA Volunteer Committees
 —     RHA Board of Directors, Roles and Responsibilities
 —     Annual Conference and Member Meeting




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Community Health Worker Training Program

Community Health Worker Training Program The Tennessee Community Health Worker Training program (CSWTPT) will train individuals across the state to work in clinics, schools, social services agencies and other community organizations.

Attend the session if:
  • You are currently a CHW who wants to get more training
  • You want to learn more about becoming a CHW
  • Your organization hires or intends to hire CHW's

Join session presenters: Tonya Elkins, Nikayla Boyd, and Beth Keylon on January 19th 10 a.m.-12 p.m. CST.

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April RHC and FQHC Resource Updates

National Health Service Corps New Site Application Webinar Recording Now Available! Click here

The 2022 NHSC New Site Application Cycle is open and accepting applications through Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. E.T.
Have a question? Application help is available!
April 14, 2-4 p.m. ET: NHSC New Site Application Q&A Session #1
April 27, 12-2 p.m. ET: NHSC New Site Application Q&A Session #2


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Certified Men's Health Educator Training

The Certified Men's Health Educator training course is aimed at professionals who are passionate about helping boys, men, and their families achieve true health and wellness.
 
The Certified Men’s Health Educator program is currently being offered free of charge to a limited number of healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals interested in improving the health of those living in their community, and who live or work in designated rural counties in Tennessee. Training for these professionals is provided by Men’s Health Network, in association with the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, and funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those who successfully complete the course will earn the “Certified Men’s Health Educator” designation.

The CMHE program is also available, on a fee basis, to interested individuals and organizations. For information on how to enroll, please email cmhe@ healthymen.org

Find out more and register for the training here.
Enter RHA2022 for a 100% Discount Code

 

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2022 Rural Health Awards Winners

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) celebrated National Rural Health Day in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on November 17, 2022, to honor those who work every day to help keep Tennessee healthy. 

The celebration was part of a three-day event bringing rural health providers, school health, and others together to deepen understanding of rural health issues and celebrate rural leaders leading the way for a healthy tomorrow throughout rural Tennessee. The below individuals were recognized for their outstanding service to rural health. 

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Medical Coding Grant press release post

                                                                  Jackson State Community College | Jackson State Community College

Medical Coding Program to receive $1.2M grant for West Tennessee students

Grant aims to fill critical healthcare positions, paying for training

The Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program awarded The Jackson State Community College (JSCC) Medical Coding Program a $1.2 million grant for supplying training, scholarships, and support to students in West Tennessee. The HRSA training program grant focuses on improving healthcare delivery in rural areas by training future and current healthcare professionals for high-quality, good-paying jobs in rural counties. The grant outlines critical needs for administrative support professions in areas such as medical coding and billing, insurance claims processing, and health information management. And as a strategic community partner, the Rural Health Association of Tennessee will aid students in recruitment, formal training, social needs, and job placement. This grant will run from September 1st, 2022, through August 30th, 2026. 

If you are interested in applying to the Medical Coding Program, please contact Chrystal Taylor at [email protected]
For more information on the Medical Coding Program, go to www.jscc.edu/mc
 
 
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,204,591 with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

Culturally Meaningful Storytelling as a Strategy for Building Trust & Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination & Mitigation Efforts

Join us Wednesday, December 7th for our free COVID-19 webinar! Vaccines and boosters are our best defense against serious illness from COVID-19. Currently, many people across the country remain unvaccinated or have not received booster shots for COVID-19.
 

In rural Appalachia, high numbers of chronic disease, along with an aging population contribute to the unvaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated having a higher risk of severe complications or death from a COVID-19 infection.

Click here to register for this event.

TN-RHC Network Planning Activities

Tennessee Rural Health Clinic (TN-RHC) Network Updates

July 1, 2022, Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) received a HRSA Planning Grant (P10RH45771‐01‐01)  to build capacity to support the state's more than 200 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). With an Advisory Committee of independent and provider-based RHCs and others the group conducted site visits, surveys, and focus groups to explore how RHA can support integrating RHCs into the larger healthcare system. Here's what we've been up to! Activities have been made possible thanks to the generous support of National Rural Health Association, Center's for Disease Control (CDC), and Health and Human Resources Services Agency (HRSA).

September 20th-22nd, RHA sent TN-RHC Advisory Member Candance Garrett with Ascension/Saint Thomas to National Rural Health  Association's RHC conference in Kansas City, MO for the latest in RHC policy and updates. Also pictured, Alicia Calloway, RHA's Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Burnett, THA's VP Rural Hospitals, and Jacy Warrell, RHA's CEO.

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Virtual Meeting for RHCs

If you missed hearing from the Tennessee Division of TennCare you can view the recording of the webinar by clicking the link below.

Our guest speakers included: Drew Staniewski, Deputy Director of TennCare; Zane Seals, Chief Financial Officer TennCare; Jacy Warrell, Executive Director of RHA of TN; and Nathan Baugh, Executive Director of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics


*This event is sponsored by Midwest Health Care, Inc. 

TennCare Tri-Star Campaign

TennCare is beginning a Tri Star Campaign to test the member addresses they  have on file. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT ANYONE’S COVERAGE. As they continue to prepare for the public health emergency unwinding (HHS Secretary Beccera renewed the PHE on 10/13/22), they want to make sure the addresses that TennCare has are accurate. Over the next two months, TennCare will send out a letter to each household. They will be asking people to be on the lookout for the letter and to notify us if they don’t receive a letter in the next two months. Additionally, TennCare will be conducting research on mail that is returned without a forwarding address.

FAQS

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Calling all RHCs!

 

We are hosting a RHC Meet & Greet to provide a space to connect with Rural Health Clinics. As a member led organization, we want to hear from you!

 This FREE event will be held 11/16/2022 at 10am EST during our annual conference at the Music Road Resort Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, TN. 

Register here to attend this event sponsored by Charles James Jr., President & CEO of North American HMS.

Partnership and Leadership award

    TPHA Executive Director Kim Harrell; TPHA President Christian Williams, DrPH, MPH;
 

Rural Health Association of Tennessee has been awarded the Partnership and Leadership Award from the Tennessee Public Health Association 


"This award is presented to a non-public health professional, group, or organization that has made a significant contribution on behalf of public health, which is extraordinary and would set an example for others. By proactively involving its members, partner organizations, and policymakers, RHA identifies rural health concerns and works to resolve those issues through service, education, and advocacy" - The Tennessee Public Health Association
SPACE
SPACE
RHA is proud to accept the Partnership and Leadership Award from the Tennessee Public Health Association. 
 
 

COVID-19 Webinar with TDH Epidemiologist

Conference and holiday season is upon us. If you have COVID-19 questions or want updates, then this webinar is for you!

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the current disease landscape of COVID-19 in Tennessee
  • Deploy proactive strategies for mitigating COVID-19 risk
  • Use evidence-based tools to make informed health decisions for you, your family, and your patients

You don't want to miss this event, register here!