Pride of Rural Virginia is a grant-funded initiative to address LGBTQIA+ health & healthcare priorities in rural areas across Virginia. The June 12th kickoff will be a virtual event to invite community members and health providers from around the state to learn more about “The Pride of Rural Virginia” project and the opportunity to attend a virtual “Pride of Rural Virginia” community chat in your area.
RHIhub Rural Maternal Health Tool
Introducing the new Rural Health Maternal Health Toolkit! This toolkit is designed to support rural communities implementing maternal health programs across the United States, by compiling evidence-based and promising models and resources.
The modules in the toolkit contain resources and information focused on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural programs to address the factors that affect and influence maternal health.
Vaccinating Rural America: Q&A with Dr. Amanda Cohn
Dr. Amanda Cohn, MD serves as the Chief Medical Officer of the National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. She additionally just completed service as Chief Medical Officer on CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force. In the attached article, Dr. Cohn discusses challenges that rural communities face in getting the COVID-19 vaccination and explains how the CDC is providing funding, creating resources, and partnering with other organizations to increase vaccination rates in underserved communities such as rural, tribal, and communities of color.
Head for the Hills Registration is now open!
GMEC is delighted to offer a special homecoming Head for the Hills in a luxurious setting. COVID has changed many things. Head for the Hills normally enjoys circulating between state parks. This year, because of pandemic restrictions, parks would require us to bring our own linens and limit capacity at gatherings. We are THIS YEAR ONLY going to the Martha Washington in Abingdon, November 4-6, 2021. Lectures will be November 5 and 6, 2021 from 8-12:30.
Because of the additional costs associated with this beautiful setting, it is essential that you provide accurate information on accommodation and meal needs for everyone in your party, as well as babysitting information for those with children.
PLEASE NOTE HOUSING POLICY: If you plan to stay Thursday night or Friday night, a $100 per night check to GMEC will be required to offset room charges and guarantee use. Checks not received within 45 days of registration will result in room cancellation. Registration deadline is July 31, 2021.
Rural Infection and death rates on the decline
For the ninth week in a row, COVID-19 infection and death rates in rural locations have continued to fall, hitting lows that have not been seen in 9 months. Since their peak during the second full week of January, new weekly cases have dropped by 83%. The number of weekly deaths has fallen by two-thirds during the same period. For more information, please visit the link below!
AMerican Rescue plan to reach every U.S. County
On , March 11th, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan as a COVID-19 stimulus package into law. The American Rescue Plan will distribute more than $130 billion to local governments, including almost $9 billion for rural county governments, plus additional funds for the cities located in those counties. Additionally, The American Rescue Plan will provide funds to each of the nation’s 3,143 county-level governments, plus more than 26,000 municipalities. To read more, click the link below!
THe third Covid Vaccine just got approved, what makes it different?
The FDA approved immediate emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine for COVID-19. While this is the third vaccine to combat the novel virus first documented in late 2019, it does differ than its counterparts by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNtech in several ways: it only requires 1 dose, it has a different efficacy, it provides quicker protection, it is easier to handle and store, and it is made using a different technology. Click the link below to read more!
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/27/health/johnson-johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-explainer/index.html
mental Health Support Suite
In the midst of this global pandemic, a more silent enemy is creeping in, taking the form of burn out and mental health fatigue. One ysytem of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and long-term care facilities based in Central Minnesota, CentraCare has developed programs in the form of a cmprehensive webpage that offers ” virtual presentation detailing symptoms of chronic stress, fliers detailing the importance of “emotional PPE,” daily 15-minute “wellness reset” meetings, spiritual care support, free mental health video visits with behavioral health providers, virtual guided meditations focused on finding balance, and mini-presentations on self-care during stressful times”.
Unique Approach to Vaccine distribution in rural counties
A coliseum in Dalhart, Texas and some dedicated healthcare workers are setting the pace for vaccine distribution in rural counties and surrounding areas. Braving the cold temperatures and the wind chill, this community worked together to administer over a thousand doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine by Pfizer in just over 6 hours. With the help of the local fire and police department , the clinic ran smoothly and socially distanced for both doses of the vaccine.
The Newest addition to our residency program
Meet the newest member of the residency program: Manny the Model! The residency program has been gifted a new central line training model by the Southwest Va. GME Consortium. This model provides extremely realistic anatomy of the upper thorax and neck in order to help residents to skills and confidence to comfortably progress to live patients. Manny will help with both blind and ultrasound-guided placement and cannot wait to work with all our residents!
