February 2022 Newsletter
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Investments in Virtual Care Technology
We hope you all have been able to stay safe and warm during this cold and snowy season of the year. As we kickoff the new year we have seen major investments in virtual care technology. Read more about the investments and what this may mean for the future at the UMTRC’s blog here.
During the month of January, we kicked off our second season of our podcast “A Virtual View” with an episode featuring Telehealth Unmuted talking about the development of our telehealth podcasts. During the month of February, we will be releasing an episode on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. The first episode of the month focuses on Provider Burnout and the second on Community Paramedicine. If you haven’t listened to our latest episodes or are interested in the upcoming episodes, please listen to it here.
Additionally, our virtual view podcast has a new design so do not be surprised by the new look!
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2021 NCTRC Annual Report
The UMTRC is proud to be one of the 12 regional Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs) that make up the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC). We are committed to assisting organizations in the implementation of telehealth programs for rural and underserved communities. 2021 was a year like no other. As the United States went into a full calendar year wrestling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCTRC continued to rise to the challenge of addressing the nation’s need for telehealth technical assistance. Learn more about the roles each TRC plays and the impact they have had in their regions in the 2021 NCTRC Annual Report.
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Call for Speakers
The UMTRC staff are that the 4th UMTRC Annual Conference will be back in South Bend, Indiana on September 13-14, 2022, at the Gillespie Conference Center. We have opened the call for speakers to present at the conference. If you are interested in participating in the 2022 UMTRC Annual Conference as a concurrent session presenter, please submit the application below by March 31, 2022.
We look forward to being able to see many of you in person again this year!
The UMTRC staff will be opening registrations for exhibitors and attendees early in 2022.
To be sure you don't miss important updates about the conference, join our mailing list!
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Upcoming Webinars
The UMTRC partners have several webinars planned for the month. We hope that you can join them and welcome your requests for additional topics for future webinars.
"Common Substance Use Disorder Coding and Reimbursement Practices"
Date: February 9, 2022
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm Eastern
Presenter(s): Micah Kassahun, Data Coordinator for the Crossroads Partnership for Telehealth and the Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium programs at IRHA.
The content of this webinar is aimed at rural healthcare providers and institutions with the intention of establishing foundational SUD coding and reimbursement practices. Elements of ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding practices will be introduced and discussed throughout the presentation.
Register HERE
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NRHA Webinar - Lessons Learned Implementing Tele-behavioral Health Programs in Rural Indiana
Date: February 22, 2022
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern
Presenter(s): Cameron Hilt, IRHA Program Director, UMTRC Program and Crossroads Partnership for Telehealth along with Dr. Cody Mullen, IRHA Senior Advisor
Make plans now to attend this NRHA webinar presented by the Upper Midwest TRC team on behalf of the NCTRC! Hear about the Crossroads Partnership for Telehealth program which works with 5 rural providers in Indiana utilizing telehealth. The focus is to increase access to care in rural areas where mental health professionals may be scarce. The presentation will review the equipment needed to set up services, how to choose software, discuss security measures, and staff training. General billing codes, the collaborative care model, screening tools, and other clinical considerations will also be reviewed. Funded through HRSA, the program evaluated patient utilization of the services between September 2018 and December 2021. Results of the data collected, and lessons learned will be shared with attendees.
Register HERE
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"Access and Accessibility: Telehealth Barriers for Patients with Disabilities"
Date: March 29, 2022
Time: 12:00pm Eastern
Presenter(s): Luke Wortley (MFA), Resource Development Coordinator for the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) and the Program Coordinator for the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC)
This webinar aims to define “access” and “accessibility” while teaching about the unique social, economic, and environmental disadvantages people with disabilities face. We will also address the impact of telehealth on people with disabilities both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Register HERE
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Virtual Office Hours
Similar to webinars, our Virtual Office Hours are offered virtually. They are more informal, more interactive, and typically only last 30 minutes, instead of an hour.
Our February Virtual Office Hours will be an open Q&A session.
Bring a beverage and your questions. We've got answers!
February 10th (1:30-2:00 Eastern)
RSVP HERE
February 23th (11:30-12:00 Eastern)
RSVP HERE
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Upcoming In-Person Conferences & Virtual Events
As we learn about regional and national webinars, trainings, and conferences on relevant topics we will post them on our website in the Events section of the UMTRC website.
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InROC HIV/AIDS Awareness Panel
In conjunction with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium (InROC) is hosting a virtual panel discussion to educate attendees on HIV/AIDS general information, prevention, and treatment.
We are very excited to have this panel of experts joining us for the event:
Dr. Eric Yazel
Dr. Katherine Lisoni
Damien Center
Join us February 7, 2022 from 11:00am-12:00pm.
Register HERE
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Winter Virtual Training Institute 2022
Enjoy a full week of training, February 7-11, 2022. As communities across the country grapple with the lingering effects of COVID-19 and, at the same time, tough issues around racial inequity and an uncertain economy, NeighborWorks is focused on capacity-building and the sharing of best practices.
“Advancing Equity and Prosperity Through Digital Access,” will be held February 9, 2022.
Click here to access the full training schedule.
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Investing in Rural America Conference
Rural LISC hosts their third Investing in Rural America Conference, a one-day event featuring national experts and local leaders on the forefront of rural economic and workforce development initiatives, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 8:00 AM-3:30 P.M. Space is limited for in-person attendance.
Register early to save your spot by clicking here.
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IRHA Spring Rural Summit
The Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) will host their Spring Rural Summit on April 12, 2022 at the Biltwell Event Center in Indianapolis, IN. Attendee and Exhibitor registration is open now.
Attendee Registration Fees:
Members............$100
Non-member......$250
Students..............$50
Register HERE
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Recently Published Articles on Telemedicine and e-Health
HIE-trained AI models can forecast individual COVID-19 hospitalization
A study from researchers at the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University found that machine learning models can be used to help support public health decision-making during the pandemic.
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The Role of Telehealth in Reducing the Mental Health Burden from COVID-19
Xiaoyun Zhou, Centaine L. Snoswell, Louise E. Harding, Matthew Bambling, Sisira Edirippulige, Xuejun Bai, and Anthony C. Smith Read Now
Journal Citation Reports® Highly Cited Paper
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Telemedicine and the COVID-19 Pandemic, Lessons for the Future
Rashid Bashshur, Charles R. Doarn, Julio M. Frenk, Joseph C. Kvedar, and James O. Woolliscroft
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Sareh Keshvardoost, Kambiz Bahaadinbeigy, and Farhad Fatehi Read Now
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Telehealth advocates ramp up pressure on elected officials
As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc in hospitals around the country, stakeholders ask elected officials to safeguard access to virtual care.
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Information and Other Resources
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell, who would oversee a deputy hired to run the new state office, was a visible reminder of how access to high-speed internet is hard to come by in rural areas. Read the remaining parts of the article here.
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE the Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program provides loans and grants for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in rural areas. Eligible facilities include buildings, land, and fixed wireless service. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the Program will fuel long-term economic development and opportunities in rural America. Deadline: 2/22/2022. Click here to learn more about this program.
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Bridging the Gap between Health and Housing” reveals the extent to which high housing costs limit low-income households’ ability to pay for other expenses. Click here to read the recorded webinar.
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TRIBAL PRACTICES FOR WELLNESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY is offering grants to support tribal practices that build resiliency and connections to community, family, and culture, which over time, can reduce risk factors for chronic disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Deadline: 3/16/2022. Click here to read the guidelines.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE USDA Agricultural Marketing Services program to supporting farmworkers and meatpacking workers. Application deadline: March 10, 2022. Click here to learn more about this program.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE USDA Rural Development encourages a regional, innovation-driven approach to economic development by funding job accelerator partnerships in low-income rural communities. Deadline: April 19, 2022. Click here to review the funding application.
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The Daily Yonder discusses a study from the Pew Research Center that compared preferences among U.S. adults regarding living in cities, suburbs, or rural areas, noting minimal change in preference for rural living. Click here to read more.
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Webinar presenting results from studies investigating challenges, opportunities, and policy implications for older adults who are aging in place in rural areas. Features statistics showing differences among rural and urban older adults in areas including educational attainment, income, housing type and ownership, unmet mobility needs, and social cohesion. To read slides of this presentation, click here. To get a transcript, click here
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Social and Subscribe
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UMTRC c/o IRHA
2901 Ohio Boulevard, Suite 240
Terre Haute, IN 47803
855-283-3734 extension 238
[email protected]
This newsletter was made possible by grant number U1UTH42522 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS.