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New report features case studies on successful public health and healthcare collaborations in rural areas

Collaborations between public health and healthcare organizations are common and may form for a variety of reasons, including to develop needs assessments, support emergency preparedness and response, and infectious disease response. In rural settings, these collaborations may look different from those in urban settings due to workforce shortages, resource scarcity, and other challenges faced by rural local health departments (LHDs). Conversely, there is some evidence that rural areas also tend to have stronger social ties, as well as a more stable workforce, which may support robust collaborations. The benefits and barriers of these types of collaborations are supported by the literature, but there has been a lack of focus on rural settings or evidence since the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to share examples of successful collaborations in rural settings across the United States, we developed a series of four case studies, each focused on a unique collaboration. We hope that these case studies bring attention to the strengths and innovation happening in rural areas and provide strategies that can inform and support future collaborations between rural-serving public health and healthcare organizations. Strategies and examples highlighted in these case studies may also be valuable to local organizations as they develop implementation plans for Rural Health Transformation Program efforts.

Wausau Daily Herald

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