Dr. Spencer Fox, assistant professor at the University of Georgia, explains how a new course on mathematical models could help public health professionals; Dr. Lana McKinney, ASTHO senior policy analyst on the State Health Policy team, tells us how...
Dr. Spencer Fox, assistant professor at the University of Georgia, explains how a new course on mathematical models could help public health professionals; Dr. Lana McKinney, ASTHO senior policy analyst on the State Health Policy team, tells us how states are addressing rural healthcare access issues; an ASTHO self-assessment can help prepare your agency for structured planning; and ASTHO’s newest member is Sarah Wilson, the director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
How To Think Like A Modeler Web Page
ASTHO Blog Article: State Legislatures Moving to Increase Rural Healthcare Access
ASTHO Web Page: Foundational Planning Readiness Organizational Self-Assessment
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, March 6, 2025 I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
SPENCER FOX:
The training, just like really at a high level, is a way to introduce the concept of mathematical modeling for public health professionals.
JOHNSON:
Dr. Spencer Fox at the University of Georgia is hosting a new online course for public health professionals to get familiar with mathematical modeling. Fox says, "We have more data than ever, but models will help answer questions and solve problems using that data."
FOX:
Mathematical models help answer those questions in these scenarios, because they can help integrate vast amounts of diverse data with our public health intuitions to aid our decision-making. However, very few public health programs provide sufficient training in what these models are or how to use and interpret them.
JOHNSON:
In just about one hour, the course can help you get familiar with the basics of these models.
FOX:
Public health professionals who take the training can expect to learn what mathematical models are. They'll go over the types of models and how they're produced, and it ends with a public health case study highlighting a successful collaboration between public health officials and modelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JOHNSON:
Already, the course is a hit.
FOX:
Over 100 people have already taken it, and their feedback has given us so many great suggestions for what to do next. Overwhelmingly, what we're hearing from people is that there's a desire to delve more deeply into modeling with public health professionals, indicating a desire to learn more about how they can build and implement their own models on their own data.
JOHNSON:
Learn more about the course and sign up by clicking the link in the show notes.
A new ASTHO blog article outlines what state legislatures are doing to increase rural healthcare access. ASTHO's. Dr. Lana McKinney wrote the online resource and says these are challenging times for many in rural areas.
LANA MCKINNEY:
Some rural communities really have dealt with hospital closures, lack of workforce that are able to staff some of these health systems. Sometimes they don't have as much access to critical care, and so a lot of these things are challenging the healthcare space in rural communities, whether it is, you know, anywhere in the continental United States or territories.
JOHNSON:
In the article, you'll learn how states are taking action.
MCKINNEY:
Some states, when they're dealing with these hospital closures, they have looked to a new Medicare provider type which allows for more limited scope of services, whether acute care or critical care access, so they can be reimbursed by Medicare.
JOHNSON:
States are also using innovative approaches to support the rural workforce.
MCKINNEY:
So, they're looking at income tax credits, looking at some unique ways to maybe support the workforce, by providing loan forgiveness or cancelation programs, scholarships, and again, tax incentives for people to come work in specific areas or specific states that have a higher rural population.
JOHNSON:
Several other new ideas are mentioned in the blog article. It's online now. The link is in the show notes.
Also today, if you're looking to review and change processes where you work, an ASTHO self assessment can help prepare your agency for structured planning. Get the self assessment now by clicking the link in the show notes.
Finally, this morning, ASTHO announces its newest member, Sarah Wilson. Wilson is the director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and brings an impressive background of experience as a practicing nurse and a healthcare executive. You can learn more about Wilson by reading her bio. It's in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
