Spotlight

​Iowa Community Corps

​The Iowa Community Corps is an AmeriCorps program within the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services, designed to strengthen community health across the state, especially in rural areas where access and capacity can be limited. Members receive a living allowance and an education award while building professional experience, leadership skills, and connections in public health. They serve in community-based organizations and local government agencies, providing hands-on support in four key areas that are vital to rural health: increasing food security, helping individuals navigate local resources, expanding community engagement, and improving youth mental health. Through this work, Iowa Community Corps members help bridge gaps in care and bring essential services closer to the people who need them.
​​Addie and Caden are serving at the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, where they are playing a key role in the clinic’s transition from paper charts to the new Athene Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. As part of this project, they are learning the EMR platform, developing standard operating procedures, and converting years of paper records into digital files. Their work is helping the clinic improve efficiency, enhance patient care, and move confidently into a fully electronic future. Here they are pictured next to the many paper records they’re working hard to digitize.
​Kylie serves at the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, where she supports patients and staff through her nursing training and Spanish fluency. She provides translation services to ensure clear, compassionate communication and actively recruits and trains Spanish‑speaking volunteers to expand the clinic’s ability to serve its Spanish‑speaking patients. Through her work, Kylie is helping the clinic deliver more accessible and culturally responsive care to the community.
Lois serves at a local church as the Lead Youth Intern and a Youth Mental Health Corps member, where she is deeply focused on supporting youth wellbeing. She leads a mental health book club that helps young people build understanding and resilience, and she organizes community resource nights to connect families with tools that promote emotional and mental health. Alongside this work, she also manages the church’s food pantry, ensuring that basic needs are met so youth and families can better focus on their overall wellbeing. Through her dedication, Lois is helping create a supportive environment centered on mental health awareness and care.

​Upcoming Events

Funding Opportunities

Rural Hospital Stabilization Program (RHSP)

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Program helps rural hospitals strengthen their financial stability by expanding or enhancing services that meet community needs and keep care local. Funded by HRSA and administered by the National Rural Health Resource Center, the program provides comprehensive financial and operational assessments, education, coaching, and customized expert assistance at no cost to hospitals. Hospitals identify and develop service lines that can boost patient volume, improve cash flow, and enhance operational efficiency. Selected hospitals may also receive financial support for operating and equipment costs needed to implement these service expansions.​

National Health Service Corps – Recertification Cycle Open

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites are required to recertify in order to maintain its NHSC‑approved status beyond the current calendar year. This designation allows approved sites to recruit NHSC Scholarship Program participants, encourage clinicians to apply for NHSC Loan Repayment Programs, and benefit from national recruitment resources such as the Health Workforce Connector and HRSA Virtual Job Fairs. The NHSC provides comprehensive tools to support a smooth recertification process, including the Site Reference Guide and the Site Agreement. Sites are encouraged to begin recertification early, with all materials due by Tuesday, September 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Planning with Purpose: Leveraging FORHP's Rural Health Network Development Planning Program for Lasting Community Impact

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's (FORHP) Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (Network Planning Program) helps rural communities strengthen their healthcare delivery systems by supporting a year of planning focused on building sustainable, collaborative networks. It brings together key partners to establish foundational infrastructure and address pressing community health needs. The webinar will explain how the program enables rural networks to launch partnerships, improve coordination, and expand access to care. Participants will also hear lessons learned and practical strategies from former grantees to maximize the program’s impact.
​Thursday, August 20, 2026 1:00pm Central

​Community Health Workers: The Missing Link

This webinar highlights the critical role Community Health Workers play in supporting rural health systems. Participants will learn strategies for integrating CHWs into care teams, improving care coordination, and strengthening community partnerships. The session is designed for rural providers seeking practical approaches to expand CHW impact.
Thursday, August 27, 2026 from 12:00 to 1:00 (CT)

​Scaling Chronic Care in Rural Clinics: Practical Strategies for Sustainable Care Management

This webinar provides strategies to strengthen chronic care management in rural clinics. Participants will learn how to improve care coordination, streamline workflows, and support complex patients through practical management tools. The session focuses on sustainable approaches that help clinics better manage chronic disease.
Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 12:00 to 1:00 (CT)

Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program (TTAP)

The Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program (TTAP) provides free, intensive support to eligible rural hospitals—especially smaller, non-federal and Critical Access Hospitals—to improve both financial and operational performance. Over two years (plus an optional year of follow-up), participating hospitals work through a structured process of assessment, planning, strategy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation—all at no cost. Cohort selection occurs annually through a brief online application and virtual interview, with four to six hospitals chosen each year based on need and readiness. While only selected hospitals receive tailored consulting, all applicants can access webinars, training events, and benchmarked assessment reports.
The deadline for the 2026–2027 project year is Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm.

Annual Heartland Cognitive Care Collective Summit

Taking place October 2, 2026 in Des Moines, this summit brings together providers, educators, policymakers, and rural health leaders to advance cognitive health across Iowa. The program focuses on early detection, workforce strengthening, and building sustainable clinical‑community partnerships. Sessions will highlight practical strategies for integrating brain health into primary care and supporting rural communities.

2026 Iowa Rural Health Association Conference

​The Iowa Rural Health Association will host its Annual Conference on October 28, 2026, at the Drake University Olmsted Center in Des Moines. Rural health professionals, educators, policymakers, and community partners will gather for learning, networking, and collaboration focused on strengthening rural health. The conference will feature sessions, speakers, and opportunities to share innovative ideas.

Iowa Rural Residency Program Request for Proposal

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP)   # PHTHORC27001 is to solicit applications that will enable the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (referred to as Agency) to select the most qualified applicant to develop a rural residency program or a rural track within an existing program within the State of Iowa. This initiative is intended to strengthen healthcare workforce capacity in rural communities by supporting the planning, design, and initial implementation of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residency programs.

New Healthy Hometowns RFP for Communities of Care Co-Location Program, Mobile Integrated Health, Maternal Health Hub & Spoke Program, and High-Risk OB & Neonatal Transport Initiative

Iowa Health and Human Services have released a set of rural health–focused initiatives aimed at improving access to care, strengthening emergency and maternal health systems, and supporting innovative care models across rural communities. Together, these RFPs are intended to expand services, improve coordination among providers, and bring high‑quality care closer to where rural Iowans live.
Communities of Care Co‑Location Program – Creates rural sites where multiple providers collaborate in one location to offer integrated health and social services in a single visit.
Mobile Integrated Health Program – Supports teams that bring clinical care directly to rural residents through treat‑in‑place care, telehealth assessments, chronic disease management, and in‑home maternal support.
Maternal Health Hub & Spoke Program – Builds networks that expand and sustain prenatal, delivery, postpartum, and mental/behavioral health services for rural pregnant and postpartum individuals.
High-Risk OB & Neonatal Transport Initiative – Strengthens rural emergency maternal and newborn care through equipment, workforce support, and training.

​USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program Applications Open

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development is accepting applications for affordable financing to support essential community facilities in rural areas. Eligible projects include healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, emergency medical centers, and other critical infrastructure that strengthens rural communities. Funding may be used for construction, expansion, renovation, or equipment needed to improve access to vital services.

News

​University of Iowa Research Helps Advance Rural Cancer Care Accreditation

​A University of Iowa–led initiative is improving access to high‑quality cancer care in rural communities through a new ACS Commission on Cancer accreditation pathway tailored to rural hospitals. The Iowa Cancer Affiliate Network (I‑CAN) strengthens rural cancer programs by partnering local hospitals with the university to expand multidisciplinary care, enhance quality improvement, and increase access to services like survivorship care, nutrition, and rehabilitation. Insights from this partnership informed the creation of the new Rural Commission on Cancer Accreditation category, making accreditation more achievable for eligible rural hospitals. This model is expected to help more rural facilities bolster cancer services and improve patient outcomes closer to home.

Forbes Reveals Top Hospitals by State

The Forbes Top Hospitals by State list, released July 14, is based on the national Forbes Top Hospitals 2026 ratings, which evaluate general acute‑care hospitals using CMS data on patient outcomes, best practices, value, and patient experience. Each hospital receives a single overall quality rating from one to five stars. The list highlights all hospitals that earned five stars, spanning 42 states.
Iowa hospitals achieved the highest overall quality: Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, MercyOne Newton Medical Center, and MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center.

Tools & Resources

A Guide to GME Development in Rural and Underserved Areas​

This resource provides a practical roadmap for organizations looking to establish or strengthen Graduate Medical Education programs in communities with limited health care access. Developed through collaboration between the ACGME and national rural and teaching health center partners, it outlines three main pathways for GME growth and walks leaders through essential steps such as assessing community needs, planning for accreditation, evaluating financial feasibility, developing faculty and leadership, implementing programs, recruiting learners, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The guide also offers resources and best practices to help organizations align GME efforts with workforce needs and expand physician training pipelines to improve care in rural and underserved communities.​

Rural Mobile Healthcare Toolkit​

This toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing mobile healthcare programs in rural communities across the United States. It highlights existing programs that have successfully provided rural mobile healthcare services.
The modules in the toolkit contain resources and information focused on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural mobile healthcare programs.

Publications

Career Pathways and Employment Experiences of Certified Nurse-Midwives Compared with Other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in the United States

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) remain underused in the United States despite workforce growth and evidence of better perinatal outcomes, highlighting the need to understand their career pathways and employment experiences. Using data from the 2018 and 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the study found changes in the size and racial diversity of the CNM workforce and identified several financial and employment differences compared with other APRNs. CNMs were more likely to rely on loans, earn lower salaries, carry higher debt, work in community health roles, and report not practicing to the full extent of their license or training. These financial and employment challenges may hinder CNMs’ ability to enter and remain in practice, indicating a need for policies that reduce barriers and support better compensation and retention.​

Advancing Strategies to Bridge the Gap in Rural Public Health and Rural Health Care

The ASTHO blog highlights persistent barriers in rural areas, such as workforce shortages, limited access to care, constrained public health capacity, and insufficient investments that hinder health and quality of life. To address these challenges, ASTHO convened the Rural Health Academy, which facilitated peer learning among state health officials and strengthened connections between public health, healthcare, and community partners. The blog emphasizes the growing role of Rural Development Hubs, which are community-rooted, multi-sector organizations that coordinate resources, build local capacity, and address systemic issues across regions to bridge the gap between public health and healthcare delivery. By integrating clinical care with social services, economic development, and education, these collaborative models aim to improve health outcomes and resilience in rural communities.

Iowa Hospitals Provided $1.4 Billion in Community Benefits in 2025​

The report underscores the vital role Iowa hospitals play beyond delivering healthcare, highlighting their far-reaching impact on local communities and the state’s economy. From charity care and community health programs to workforce development and economic investment, Iowa hospitals remain essential partners in improving the health and well-being of Iowans.​

Federal Policy Priorities to Strengthen Rural Health and Maximize Rural Health Transformation Program Investments

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has released a new report on how federal reforms could help bolster rural health and maximize the impact from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The report found that of the states’ proposed RHTP initiatives, the two most common investments are in technology innovation and workforce development. These investments focus on building and strengthening the core digital and workforce infrastructure needed to enable access and improve care in rural communities. Additionally, findings from the report support the idea that the long-term success of these investments relies on the ability of states to sustain the initiatives beyond the five years of program funding under RHTP.

The Health of US Primary Care: The Cost of Neglect

This report outlines how chronic underinvestment in primary care contributes to declining performance and widening gaps in care delivery. It describes how financial pressures undermine efforts to provide continuous, whole person care and intensify workforce strain across the system. The publication underscores the need for more sustainable financial and policy support to strengthen primary care and improve community health outcomes.

Nursing Workforce Sustainability: An Evolutionary Concept​

This article explores how the concept of nursing workforce sustainability has evolved in response to shifting demands within health care systems. The authors examine key factors influencing long term workforce stability, including organizational support, professional development opportunities, workplace culture, and policy environments. The publication emphasizes the importance of intentional strategies that strengthen retention and support nurses throughout their careers.​

The Corporate Backdoor to Medicine: How MSOs Are Reshaping Physician Practices

This report examines how private equity firms, insurers, and other corporate entities increasingly rely on management services organizations to sidestep restrictions on the corporate practice of medicine. It explains how management service organizations (MSO) enable corporations to exert functional control over medical practices, influence clinical decisions, and shape care delivery. The publication highlights concerns related to physician autonomy, patient care, and regulatory oversight as MSO‑driven ownership models expand.

Train Rural, Work Rural: The Potential for Advanced Fellowships in Addressing Rural VA Healthcare Workforce Shortages​

This article examines how advanced fellowships may help strengthen the rural Veterans Health Administration workforce by training clinicians who are prepared to serve in rural settings. The authors explore how targeted rural training can improve recruitment, enhance clinical readiness, and increase workforce retention in areas facing persistent shortages. The publication highlights opportunities to build a more sustainable rural VA workforce through expanded fellowship pathways and strategic alignment with community needs.​

Fifty Years of Trust Research in Health Care: A Synthetic Review

This review synthesizes five decades of research on trust in health care and highlights its foundational role in effective relationships between patients, clinicians, and healthcare organizations. The authors identify persistent challenges in defining, measuring, and applying trust within health systems and research settings. The publication calls for more robust, precise inquiry to better inform policy and strengthen care relationships.​

RMOMS 2021 Cohort Final Report​

This report summarizes findings from the RMOMS 2021 cohort, providing insight into maternal health challenges and care patterns across rural communities. It identifies barriers related to access, clinical capacity, and care coordination while also highlighting opportunities to strengthen maternal health systems. The publication offers recommendations to help rural stakeholders improve outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals.