394: Rural Health Solutions, Healthy People 2030 Training

ROBERT JOHNSON:

This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, April 7, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson.

Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

ELKE SHAW-TULLOCH:

In rural health in America today, in general they are experiencing poor health. Rural America has higher rates of heart disease, cancer, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and unintentional injuries, along with higher risks of suicide and drug overdoses. They tend to have more elderly populations who experienced more chronic health issues.

JOHNSON:

On day five of National Public Health Week, Idaho public health administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch tells us why rural health can be so challenging.

SHAW-TULLOCH:

An example might be if you invest $100,000 in urban public health district, you can reach many people with that $100,000. But if you have only that same amount for a rural public health area or district, they have to travel long distances and might only be able to provide services to just a few people. Also, there's less local level staff maybe in those communities that have grant writing experience, making it very challenging for some of those local communities to apply for and be awarded funds.

JOHNSON:

In Idaho, Shaw-Tulloch says her department is working to address needs through better local connections.

SHAW-TULLOCH:

We feel it's really important to develop strong relationships with our local partners and organizations that serve our local communities. And part of developing these relationships is to really listen to what communities need. It's relatively easy to look at our community data that we have, but that only tells part of the story about local communities. Especially in rural communities, there are also social norms, culture, perceptions, and local priorities that need to be considered.

JOHNSON:

Idaho has a program to improve rural health based in part on Rhode Island's Health Equity Zone approach.

SHAW-TULLOCH:

Get Healthy Idaho is a community-driven, place-based initiatives that strives to improve health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, reduce health disparities, and improve health equity across Idaho. We believe the opportunity to be safe, healthy, and resilient should be available everywhere for everyone in Idaho. Get Healthy Idaho serves as both our state health improvement plan, our population health dashboard, and our model for change.

JOHNSON:

The American Public Health Association has identified seven themes to examine this week. We began our coverage Monday. We wrap up on Tuesday next week. You can read more about the week's events and topics using the link in the show notes.

A new ASTHO microlearning demonstrates how the Healthy People 2030 framework, the Public Health Accreditation Board standards, and health equity can align in public health planning. This is Corinne Gillenwater.

CORRINE GILLENWATER:

This new microlearning is really designed to help learners like Healthy People coordinators and other state and island health department staff understand the synergy between Healthy People 2030 objectives and Public Health Accreditation Board, or PHAB, standards as well as to discover how to center health equity while using both of these frameworks in public health planning and assessment.

JOHNSON:

The microlearning has three modules, a knowledge check, and a survey.

GILLENWATER:

Each module has short videos narrated by ASTHO staff across three different teams. It has content summaries, helpful links and resources, critical thinking questions, and knowledge check questions. The modules are short and sweet and really help public health professionals learn the fundamentals of how Healthy People 2030 objectives, PHAB standards, and health equity intersect in a quick and understandable way.

JOHNSON:

Gillenwater says the audience will lead the training with at least two takeaways.

GILLENWATER:

First, that using Healthy People 2030 objectives as a foundational framework in planning and assessment serves a dual purpose of working towards PHAB accreditation standards and advancing health equity. So, it really is the feeding the two birds with one seed approach. And then, second, centering health equity and public health work from the beginning phases of planning throughout implementation is a necessity.

JOHNSON:

You can access the new ASTHO microlearning using the link in the show notes.

Also we normally report on the latest happenings in Congress on Friday, but lawmakers are on break this week. ASTHO's government relations team will join us again next week as work resumes on Capitol Hill.

Thinking about next week, ASTHO and the National Governors Association will host a webinar to examine the future of emergency response capabilities in the context of the new legal landscape. South Carolina public health director Dr. Brandon Traxler will speak at the event set for Wednesday, April 12, at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Sign up using the link in the show notes.

Finally this morning, ASTHO President Dr. Anne Zink will discuss health equity during a panel at the 2023 HIMSS conference in Chicago. The panel is set for April 20. Get more information using the link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.