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Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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White Paper/Brief
This brief lists interventions to support state public health efforts to address rural disparities and racial discrimination. It emphasizes the importance of localized data on social determinants of health and improving systemic and structural underpinnings of racial disparities. Suggested interventions address data collection and workforce issues, including representativeness and paid family leave.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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Toolkit
This blueprint presents recommendations for Illinois to reduce health disparities in rural areas. Recommendations include (1) investing in programs to recruit and retain rural health care workers; (2) improving rural data systems; (3) integrating health care and social services in rural areas; (4) increasing communication between rural health organizations and public health departments; and (5) creating a rural innovation center to coordinate data, policies, and strategies across state agencies.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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White Paper/Brief
In northwest Arkansas, the Marshallese community has experienced a disproportionate COVID-19 burden. This response plan, funded by the CARES act, hired English/Marshallese bilingual staff to provide contact tracing, navigation, and other types of response. Staff that were not bilingual participated in cultural humility training.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Peer Review Study
This practice traces a 14-year partnership between health institutions and a rural Native Hawaiian community. The partnership began as a single study to study familial cardiomyopathy, then evolved towards a community-based project to improve overall health and wellbeing. As time went on, other institutions and community leaders became involved. The article focuses on the growth of institutional capacity and community service. Lessons learned can serve to engage communities in COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Peer Review Study
This article evaluates a partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore – an urban academic treatment center – and multiple rural behavioral health treatment centers to provide medication assisted treatment (MAT) to individuals with opioid use disorder via videoconference. Retention rates and toxicology results for patients who received MAT via videoconference were comparable to those receiving face-to-face treatment. It should be noted that data for this study were collected prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Peer Review Study
This article presents the results of a non-randomized controlled trial comparing in-person vs. telemedicine treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder in South Carolina. The authors found no statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes for women who received care in-person vs. via telemedicine, and no statistically significant difference in outcomes for the newborns of women in these respective groups. The authors were unable to assign trial participants to telemedicine vs. in-person care at random due to the inability of some rural patients to attend treatment in person. Also, the sample size was not sufficient to achieve ~80% power to detect a difference between the two groups. At the same time, the practice strategy is considered useful for helping to deliver telehealth treatment for vulnerable populations, including pregnant and newly parenting people with substance use disorder, and people living in rural communities.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Case Study
This article summarizes the lessons learned from implementing telehealth in rural environments over the past 3 years and how to expand these efforts in the context of COVID-19. The needs of elderly populations in rural environments are also addressed. It provides 5 strategies for implementing telehealth in this context: (1) Preparation and Training; 2) Standardize and Expedite Credentialing; (3) Technology; (4) Broadband; and (5) Feedback and Rapid Improvement.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Peer Review Study
The article presents strategies of how Durham County Department of Public Health operationalized equity into multiple phases of its COVID-19 response through infrastructure changes and how to apply these methods to future public health emergencies to better serve vulnerable populations. This response relied upon robust data collection of demographic data to identify inequities. Infrastructure changes included standing up multiple COVID-19 Task Forces (Homeless, Community, Food Security, African American) and Strike Teams (Long-Term Care Facility, Clusters) targeting vulnerable populations; placing testing sites in targeted locations; collaborating with multisector and community partners for feedback; and providing Health Ambassadors for in-person dissemination of COVID-19 information. The paper reviews results from these interventions and lessons learned.