Links:
T he Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) http://www.coruralhealth.org is an independent, non-profit, membership-based organization that serves as the State Office of Rural Health for Colorado . The center offers programs and services to ensure that rural communities have access to adequate healthcare. The Colorado Rural Health Center provides i nformation, education, linkages, and tools including seed grants.
The Colorado Area Health Education Center (AHEC ) http://www.uchsc.edu/ ahec system is a community/academic partnership involving the five schools of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and five AHEC's, each serving a designated region of the state. Four of the AHEC's are rural, community-based independent organizations. The fifth AHEC is predominantly urban. The mission of the Colorado AHEC program is to improve the supply and distribution of health care providers across the entire state; and to improve the access and quality of care provided by these health care providers.
The National Rural Health Association (http://www.nrharural.org) , a member association of more than 10,000, is THE voice of rural health, promoting leadership, communication, education, research, and advocacy since 1978 National rural health association
The Robert Graham Center (http://www.graham-center.org/x243.xml) exists to improve individual and population health by enhancing the delivery of primary care. The Center aims to achieve this mission through the generation or synthesis of evidence that brings a family medicine and primary care perspective to health policy deliberations from the local to international levels.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (http://www.aafp.org/) is the national association of family doctors. It is one of the largest national medical organizations, with more than 94,000 members in 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico , the Virgin Islands , and Guam . Until October 3, 1971 , it was known as the American Academy of General Practice. The name was changed in order to reflect more accurately the changing nature of primary health care. The AAFP has a multitude of activities to enhance rural practice. For a snapshot of the role of Family Physicians in rural healthcare see this position paper: http://www.aafp.org/x16635.xml The AAFP website also provides full and free access to the medical journal: American Family Physician which contains full text review articles on medical topics as well as patient education materials.
Health Care in rural America (http://www.wws.princeton.edu/ota/disk2/1990/9022_n.html ). Mounting concerns related to rural residents' access to health care prompted the Senate Rural Health Caucus to request that the Office of Technology Assessment conduct an assessment of these and related issues. This report, Health Care in Rural America is the final product of that assessment .
The World of Rural Medical Education (http://www.unmc.edu/Community/ruralmeded/) This site is about change, change that will result in improved health for those in underserved areas, inner city and rural. Effective change will involve several levels. Past wisdom, successful models, and recent research have all demonstrated that we can truly accomplish these goals. (1) Graduation of more physicians who will choose rural and underserved locations (2) Training of these physicians for specific practice and community situations (3) Retention of physicians in these locations women and children, including obstetric and perinatal care; and (c) access to high-quality care for vulnerable and minority rural populations.
The WWAMI ( Washington , Wyoming , Alaska , Montana, & Idaho ) Rural Health Research Center (RHRC) (http://www.fammed.washington.edu/wwamirhrc/) is one of six rural research centers funded by the federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to perform policy-oriented research on issues related to rural health care. Major areas of inquiry being conducted at the WWAMI RHRC focus on (a) the training and supply of rural health care providers and the content and outcomes of the care they provide; (b) the availability and quality of care for rural women and children, including obstetric and perinatal care; (c) access to high-quality care for vulnerable and minority rural populations
The University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center's (http://www.hsr.umn.edu/rhrc/) mission is to conduct policy-relevant research that can be disseminated in an effective and timely manner to help shape the delivery and financing of rural health services.
The Rural Information Center (RIC ) (http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/) of the National Agricultural Library provides information and referral services to local, tribal, state, and federal government officials; community organizations; rural electric and telephone cooperatives; libraries; businesses; and, citizens working to maintain the vitality of America 's rural areas.
The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (http://stfm.org/index_ex.htm)l responds to the needs of family medicine educators. Annual meetings include many educational sessions and papers on topics related to education for rural practice.
The NHSC (http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/) connects healthcare providers with communities who need them. These health professional shortage areas are nestled throughout the United States , from Washington State 's Apple Country to the streets of Baltimore . Whether at rural or urban sites, NHSC clinicians describe meaningful experiences with the communities they serve.
High Plains Research Network (http://fammed.uchsc.edu/highplains)
Department of Family Medicine (http://fammed.uchsc.edu/home/default.aspx)
Lower GI Endoscopy training (https://www2.uchsc.edu/ahec/sigmoid)
