Announcements
Now Open: Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment ProgramAccepting Pre Applications through May 14, 2024 4:00 PM
The Iowa Health and Human Services Agency accepts applications for the Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Licensed healthcare practitioners in eligible disciplines can receive loan repayment assistance through the Primary Care Provider LRP in exchange for a service obligation at eligible practice site(s) located in a federally designated health professional shortage area. |
Connecting Your Talent with Employers: HRSA Virtual Job FairLearn more about job opportunities, hear details about benefit packages, and find out how you can help underserved communities. HRSA Virtual Job Fairs are free online recruitment events that connect career-seeking health care professionals with representatives from health care facilities across the country. Connect with representatives from 50 health care facilities recruiting for open vacancies.
|
Iowa Cancer Consortium Spring Meeting: Cancer at Work: Occupational Risk Reduction |
CMS Minority Research Grant Program |
Thursday, April 25th, 11am-2pm (Virtual)
CEU’s available Local and national experts will present about occupational cancer risk factors for several sectors highlighted in the Iowa Cancer Plan, including:
|
The application deadline is 6/3/2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provide grants to encourage innovative health services research to improve health outcomes for people from minority populations – including racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with limited English proficiency, rural populations, and individuals adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. |
North Central Iowa Maternal Health Meeting
May 1, 9:30 am – 11:30 am CT.
HRSA IEA will host a Maternal Health Meeting in Marshalltown, Iowa at the Marshalltown Public Library (105 W. Boone St. |Marshalltown, IA 50158). Join us to share about maternal health issues such as challenges in serving rural mothers and families, successful strategies and innovative models to support maternal health, current technical assistance needs, and opportunities for collaboration. This meeting is offered in person only; there will not be a virtual option.
|
North Central Iowa Grants 101 Workshop
April 30, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm C.T.
Attendees will learn about the federal grant application process, where to find funding opportunities, strategies for putting together a successful application, and resources to support their grant writing efforts. This workshop is offered in person only; there will not be a virtual option.
|
Webinar Series on Rural Maternal Health
Registration is now open for a four-part webinar series presented by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), in collaboration with the Rural Health Information Hub. Focused on the needs of rural facilities with and without birth units, the series will explain aspects of the new Birthing-Friendly Hospital Designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
|
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Impact
Apply by May 6
RCORP – Impact kicks off a new rural opioid treatment and recovery initiative under the umbrella of RCORP, which will focus on establishing new comprehensive substance use disorder treatment and recovery services in rural communities. Each grantee will receive up to $750,000 per year for a four-year project.
|
Now Accepting Applications: NHSC Loan Repayment
The application deadline is Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for three loan repayment programs, each with different award amounts and eligibility requirements based on your credentials and discipline.
|
HRSA Grants & Health Equity in Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) WebinarApril 30, 2:00 pm C.T.
Please join the HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Office of Health Equity, and the Office of Federal Assistance Management for a webinar dedicated to guiding new and potential grantees through the complexities of the federal grants process. This event will also highlight HRSA programs, funding, and technical assistance resources.
Public Health Leadership TrainingApplications are currently open through June 7.
The Great Plains Leadership Institute is a regional, year-long program designed to build and enhance the leadership skills of emerging and senior leaders in organizations whose primary mission is to improve the health and well-being of populations and communities. Scholarships are available.
|
Apply for a Nurse Corps Scholarship!
Accepting applications through Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
A Nurse Corps Scholarship pays your tuition, fees, and other educational costs (ex. books, clinical supplies and instruments), plus a monthly stipend for living expenses. In return, you work at a Critical Shortage Facility for at least two years following graduation.
|
HRSA Workforce Funding Opportunities for Nursing Students and NursesMay 8, 1:30 pm C.T.
Join the HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) to discuss funding opportunities available to nursing students and graduates, nurses looking to advance their careers, and nursing programs. This webinar will provide information about how to apply for scholarships, nursing student loans and loan repayment opportunities, training programs, and the benefits of each program.
|
Now Open: NHSC Scholarship Program
Accepting applications through April 25, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training. It’s the perfect opportunity to fund your health care career. Get financial support for your education and in return, serve at least two years in a community in need.
|
Annual Rural Health ConferenceMay 7-10, 2024, New Orleans
Join NRHA and hundreds of rural health leaders from across the country down in the bayou to help raise the standard for rural health with over 80 innovative, practical, and cost-saving sessions and much more. |
Feature Program
Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (FIND) Project
The Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (FIND) Project is a state and local collaboration that is committed to connecting dentists and underserved communities with the resources needed to increase access to care. This program engages dentists to establish dental practices in designated Iowa priority counties where access to dental care is limited. Recipients must devote a percentage of their practice to individuals who disproportionately face barriers to access care such as those enrolled in Medicaid, older adults, and other historically underserviced populations.
Since Delta Dental began the Loan Repayment program in 2002, 61 private-practice dentists have received awards and have provided 352,000 patient visits and more than 942,000 dental services to underserved Iowans in priority counties.
Based on the status of their practicing counties, FIND recipients receive funding of $125,000 (priority county) or $200,000 (high priority county) in return for a five-year commitment. This includes $120,000 or $195,000 from Delta Dental of Iowa and the State of Iowa, respectively, and a community match of $5,000.
Since Delta Dental began the Loan Repayment program in 2002, 61 private-practice dentists have received awards and have provided 352,000 patient visits and more than 942,000 dental services to underserved Iowans in priority counties.
Based on the status of their practicing counties, FIND recipients receive funding of $125,000 (priority county) or $200,000 (high priority county) in return for a five-year commitment. This includes $120,000 or $195,000 from Delta Dental of Iowa and the State of Iowa, respectively, and a community match of $5,000.
2024 Application Process Now Open
June 1: Set up application account
July 1: Application due date Delta Dental of Iowa is now accepting “intent to apply” requests from interested dentists or graduating dental students for the 2024-25 education loan repayment application cycle. The FIND Project provides loan repayment awards of $125,000 or $200,000 (based on the practice county) to dentists in private practice settings for a 5-year commitment period. As part of Delta Dental’s efforts to increase access to dental care throughout Iowa, awardees are required to allocate 35% of their patient visits to underserved populations, including 15% to patients who are enrolled in the Dental Wellness Plan (Medicaid). |
|
Four Iowa dentists receive loan repayment awards from FIND project to increase access to dental care
Four Iowa dentists are the 2024 recipients of educational loan repayment awards from the Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (FIND) project, a collaborative public-private partnership.
News
NCSBN Launches 2024 Nursing Workforce SurveyOn the heels of its groundbreaking 2022 research, NCSBN will launch the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey in April 2024. The survey will run through September 2024. The largest, most comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the entire nursing workforce, NCSBN’s survey in 2022 found that almost 1 million nurses indicated an intent to leave the profession by 2027.
|
Advocates see health care shortage for refugees resettling in IowaAdvocates say there is a critical need for providers who understand the unique needs of people who faced great trauma to come to America.
Bigger clinic means more people can see a dentistEastern Iowa Health Center expansion opens more appointments for low-income, elderly, immigrants
|
Average physician compensation, by regionPhysicians in West North Central states such as Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota reported the highest earning compensation last year, while physicians in Mid-Atlantic states such as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania reported the lowest, according to Medscape's "2024 Physician Compensation Report," released April 12.
|
National Rural Health Association identifies several Iowa facilities as top critical access and rural/community hospitalsThe National Rural Health Association has honored several Iowa hospitals, including them in its Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in America and Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals in America lists. Based on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance Index, these rankings are testaments to the hospitals' excellence. The association’s winners in each category, named by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, are among the highest-ranked in the nation.
|
Strategic Collaboration: The Key to Moving Rural Healthcare ForwardRural healthcare organizations have long understood the necessity of partnerships to remain viable amid workforce shortages, financial pressures, barriers to technology adoption, and an aging population.
|
Community Impact and Benefit of Critical Access and other Rural Hospitals.Examines the economic and health care benefit of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) on rural communities. Looks at the services provided, the economic health of CAHs, and the effect this has on their communities broadly. Includes comparisons of community benefit and patient care services indicators provided by CAHs and other rural and urban hospitals. The Flex Monitoring Team is a FORHP-supported consortium of researchers who evaluate the impact of HRSA’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program.
|
Publications
HRSA’s National Sample Survey of Registered NursesHRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce provides demographic, training and education, employment, COVID-19 impact, and workforce projection data for registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S.
Advancing Racial Equity in U.S. Health Care: The Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities ReportThis report evaluates disparities in health and health care across racial and ethnic groups, both within states and between U.S. states.
|
It Can’t Just Be About the Money: How to Assure an Adequate Public Health WorkforceSalary disparities emphasize the urgency of rectifying pay inequities in public health occupations. However, many public health positions are governed by state employee pay structures that cannot be changed for only one agency. Given the challenges of increasing governmental pay just for public health, additional approaches are needed for public health recruitment and retention that are within the public health sector’s control.
Interventions for health workforce retention in rural and remote areas: a systematic reviewAttracting and retaining sufficient health workers to provide adequate services for residents of rural and remote areas has global significance. High income countries (HICs) face challenges in staffing rural areas, which are often perceived by health workers as less attractive workplaces. The objective of this review was to examine the quantifiable associations between interventions to retain health workers in rural and remote areas of HICs, and workforce retention.
|
Tools
Impact Wellbeing Campaign
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Impact Wellbeing™ campaign gives hospital leaders evidence-informed solutions to:
- Reduce healthcare worker burnout
- Sustain wellbeing
- Build a system where healthcare workers thrive
The Rural Library and Health Cooperative Agreement Program: A New Chapter in Rural Healthcare Access
A Conversation with the Student Association for Rural Health
Applying for Grants to Support Rural Health ProjectsThis guidance can serve as a starting point for those who need assistance to begin the grant writing process. It covers tips on searching for rural-specific funding, grant proposal preparation, building successful funding relationships, and planning for program sustainability.
|
Black Maternal Health ToolkitThese resources are meant to provide quick actionable information to help pregnant people and their families make informed decisions about pregnancy, birthing health, and postpartum.
|
Rural Primary Care Institute (On-Demand)Tailored specifically for State Offices of Rural Health and their partners and stakeholders, NOSORH’s Rural Primary Care Institute – On-Demand equips participants with the tools to deliver effective technical assistance to rural primary care providers.
|
Rural Health Insights for Each State & Congressional District
Stroudwater Associates, in partnership with the National Rural Healthcare Association (NRHA) and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), has developed an integrated data visualization dashboard of healthcare infrastructure, workforce, outcomes, and status metrics.