Core Rural Concepts Topics
ABOUT THE DIDACTIC MATERIAL The Core Rural Concepts courses supplement those who are or who will soon be visiting or practicing in a rural community. The course work includes lectures, discussions, seminars, and conferences. This curriculum is for rural-interested residents, fellows, minifellows, medical students, graduate nursing students, and graduate students in allied health as well as current rural health professionals. It is nearly impossible to schedule talks or discussions in all these categories. The best use of this curriculum occurs when faculty or coordinators choose topics that fit the known or perceived objectives of the recipients.
Objectives for Rural Programs and Curricula
Timetable for Developing Rural Programs
Collaborative Rural Curricula derived from core rural topics and located at http://www.ruralfamilymedicine.org/educationalstrategies/complete%20collaborative%20rural%20curriculum.htm
Rural Health Overview - Understanding what is rural
Defining rural
Demographics
Economics
Rural Health as a Component in and of the Community
Interdependency of Education, Economic Development, Health Care and others
Rural Health Advocacy at the state and national level
Rural Providers - Ambulatory Issues and Rural Practice Management
Reimbursement Issues and other State and Federal Health Policy Regarding Providers
Community Health Center and Rural Health Clinics
Types of Providers - Allied, Nursing, Physicians Assistants
Provider Organizations
Solo, Group, Multispecialty Satellites
Hospital owned vs independent practice
Supervising a Clinical Lab
Quality Assurance
Participants in Health - Health Dept., Schools, Businesses, Extension, Leader
Relationships with Larger Networks or Academic Rural Health Centers
Patient Health Education
The Tough Issues - the Expanding Scope of Rural Practice
The Workload Issues
Balancing Practice, Community, Family and Personal Needs
Dealing with Uncertainty
Difficult Patients - Demanding, Chronically Ill, and Terminal Patients and dealing with one's own personal conflicts
Management and Leadership Issues
Time management Conflict Resolution
Use of advisors, consultants Sources of management and leadership training
Rural Community-Oriented Primary Care
Assessing the Health Needs of Rural Communities
Problem Solving with Health Systems
Priorities in Rural Health Care
Community Leadership/Advocacy
Case Studies of Community Development and Health Care
Teaching COPC to Students
Rural Health Systems and Facilities
Rural Hospital Problems and Solutions
Developing and Maintaining a Primary Care Base
Local Government and Rural Health Hospital Alternatives
Community and Board Evaluation and Education Programs
Rural Nursing Homes and Skilled Care
Rural Clinical Topics
Agrimedicine Topics - Toxins, Farm Safety/Injuries, Noise abatement
Occupation Health
Sports Medicine and School Health
Trauma and Emergency Care Systems
Rural Infectious Diseases
Mental Health in Rural Areas
Emergency Medical Systems
Rural Obstetrics and ALSO
Pediatrics and PALS
Cardiology - ACLS
Surgery - Triage and Acute Trauma Management and ATLS
Sociological and Governmental Issues in Rural Health
Local Resources - Public Health Welfare Offices
State Departments of Health and Offices of Rural Health
State Provider Organizations - Primary Care, Rural, Professions
Federal and State Offices of Rural Health
National Organizations and Rural Health - NRHA, AMA, AAFP, APHA, ANA
The Community Role of the Rural Physician and other Health and Community Leaders
Rural Health Profession Supply and Demand
Recruitment, Retention and Satisfaction Issues
National Studies of Manpower and Providers
State and Regional Programs
Education and Training for Rural Providers
The Decision for Rural Practice
The Pipeline to Rural Practice - Programs at all levels
Non-Physician Providers
Planning and Implementing Rural Presentations for Students
The role of AHECS
The Need for Multi-skilled Rural Health Professionals
Many of these topics are given at the Annual Meetings of the National Rural Health Association, state associations, state government conferences, and those of the various provider organizations