Promising Practices
NOSORH publishes monthly Promising Practice articles to bring attention to the innovative, effective, and valuable State Offices of Rural Health work. Promising Practices help you learn about, share and replicate the incredible rural health initiatives happening across the country.
Promising Practice: Montana’s Rural Health Initiative Promotes Healthy Lifestyles and Communities
By: Beth Blevins A farmers market, a community garden, chemo care kits—these projects and others were started with the help of Mini Grants from the Montana Office of Rural Health’s (RHI). The grants were awarded last fall and earlier this year to a total of seven...
Promising Practice: Virginia SORH Taking Aim at Opioid Overdose
by Beth Blevins Through lay rescuer training and the distribution of lifesaving kits, Virginia is taking aim at opioid overdoses in the state. Now it is increasing its outreach into rural parts of the state through the Virginia State Office of Rural Health (VA SORH)....
Promising Practice: GA SORH Looks at the Feasibility of EMS Regionalization in the State
by Beth Blevins A study commissioned by the Georgia State Office of Rural Health is looking at the feasibility of regionalizing 911 emergency services in rural counties in the state. Between 2010 and 2016, six rural hospitals closed in Georgia, and others reduced...
Promising Practice: Screening Program in Connecticut Works to Stem Drug Abuse and Misuse
by Beth Blevins Like many other states, Connecticut is facing a drug crisis. The number of in the state nearly doubled between 2014 and 2015. More people die there from drug overdoses than from car accidents or firearms. To combat this, the CT SBIRT (Screening, Brief...
Promising Practice: Oregon Office of Rural Health Conducts Statewide Listening Tours with Rural Facilities
The Oregon Office of Rural Health (OORH) has learned that the simple act of listening can be a powerful tool for change. With Listening Tours conducted in 2014 and again this year, OORH has met with Oregon rural facilities to see what their most pressing challenges...
Promising Practice: Pennsylvania SORH Coordinates Unique Agricultural Worker Safety Program
By: Beth Blevins For the last 12 years, Jim Harvey has been “poking along the back roads” of Pennsylvania, visiting agricultural producers across the state. The visits are both friendly and educational. Harvey, the state’s Rural Health Farm Worker Protection Safety...
Promising Practice: Kansas SORH Builds Internal Partnership to Reach RHCs
What started with a simple conversation between two programs within the same bureau, has turned into an annual rural health clinic statewide survey with an incredible response rate. Since 2013, the Kansas State Office of Primary Care and Rural Health has partnered...
Promising Practice: Rural Collaborative Opportunities for Occupational Learning in Health Scrubs Program
The Rural Collaborative Opportunities for Occupational Learning in Health Scrubs Program, supported by the Center for Rural Health (CRH) and the North Dakota Area Health Education Centers, provides unique, interactive opportunities for rural North Dakota students to...
Promising Practice: Wisconsin Recognizes Need to Engage Girls in EMS
Rescue Divas is a camp for middle-school girls that aims to attract new recruits to the field of emergency medical services. The Ashland Bayfield county areas, like many rural areas, has a difficult time recruiting volunteers for EMS services. They decided to change...
Promising Practice: ICD-10 – Now what? NC SORH Dedicated to Supporting Rural Providers
ICD-10 became a reality for all providers on October 1, 2015. It is too early to fully assess the impact from the transition. Over the next 6 months, the needs of rural providers will be better understood. If providers in your state still require assistance, look to...