Trainings and Resources

The North Carolina Emergency Department (ED) Peer Support Program enables participating North Carolina hospitals to embed certified peer support specialists in their emergency departments to connect patients presenting with opioid overdose to treatment, recovery, resources and harm reduction supports. This guide is a tool for introducing an ED peer support program in a hospital setting.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued proposed Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider type that was established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.  This rule seeks comment on proposed health and safety standards for REHs, which closely align with the current standards for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in most cases.

The IHS forensic healthcare program was established in 2011 to address sexual violence, and has expanded to include intimate partner violence, child sexual abuse, and elder maltreatment. The program trains providers in forensic medical examinations, evidence collection techniques, and in coordinated community response to address violence.

In December 2020, Congress created a new type of Medicare provider called the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) as a response to loss of emergency services in rural areas due to hospital closures. The new designation will allow a Critical Access Hospital or small rural hospital with no more than 50 beds to convert to an REH with 24-hour emergency services, but no inpatient care. This report from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services summarizes the statutory requirements for REHs, examines implications for various federal entities likely to be involved in their administration, and makes 16 recommendations to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to ensure the success of the REH model.

Presenters reviewed resources available to rural grantees through their respective agencies.

A joint program of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients and struggling with access to enough critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other specialized clinical experts. Teams of critical care clinicians are available to deliver virtual care through lightweight telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians and email to learn more and sign up

Following reports of increased calls to Poison Control related to Ivermectin [pdf], the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory against its use for prevention or treatment of COVID-19.  The drug is intended to treat or prevent parasites in animals and only approved for human use in small doses for parasitic worms, or as a topical treatment for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.  Severe illness and hospitalizations from overdose have also been reported; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), allergic reactions (itching and hives), dizziness, ataxia (problems with balance), seizures, coma and even death.  HRSA-supported Poison Control Centers can be reached online or by phone at 1-800-222-1222.

Goals: Increase knowledge of harm reduction principles, strategies, and resources, increase knowledge of managed use, abstinence, and safer use to meet people who use drugs where they are at, provide a safe environment (plenaries and breakouts) to discuss licit and illicit drug use as a multi-faceted phenomenon requiring successful interventions and policies and increase knowledge of stigma as it relates to harm reduction principles and practices.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced $398 Million for COVID-19 testing and mitigation.  The funds will be distributed by State Offices of Rural Health to 1,540 rural hospitals through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) examines the differences in month-to-month hospitalizations by patient location (metropolitan to rural) from April to September 2020.