INTRODUCTION This article identifies trends in the evolving practice of rural paramedics and describes key characteristics, roles and expected outcomes for a Rural Expanded Scope of Practice (RESP) model. METHODS A multiple case study methodology was employed to examine the evolution of rural paramedic practice. Paramedics, volunteer ambulance officers and other health professionals were inte...

INTRODUCTION Despite the known benefits of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, rural areas have consistently reported lower screening rates than their urban counterparts. Alternative healthcare delivery models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), have the potential to increase CRC rates through collaboration among healthcare providers with the aim of improving quality and decreasing c...

PURPOSE The University of Missouri School of Medicine developed the Rural Track Pipeline Program (MU-RTPP) to increase the supply and retention of rural physicians statewide. The MU-RTPP features a preadmissions program for rural students (Rural Scholars), a Summer Community Program for rising second-year students, a six-month Rural Track Clerkship (RTC) Program for third-year students, and a R...

BACKGROUND Assessment of the availability of essential medicines, in rural areas of countries with free state health care system, is scarce. Dependence on essential medicines among the population in rural sector is considered to be high. Assessing the availability of essential medicines in selected state owned primary and secondary health care institutions of a rural district will help to ident...

BACKGROUND Estimates of the relative contributions of physicians, physician assistants (PAs), and nurse practitioners (NPs) toward rural primary care are needed to inform workforce planning activities aimed at reducing rural primary shortages. OBJECTIVES For each provider group, this study quantifies the average weekly number of outpatient primary care visits and the types of services provide...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between medical students who undertake international medical electives (IMEs) in resource poor settings and their reported career preference for primary care in underserved areas such as rural practice. This study examines whether a similar correlation exists in the Australian medical school context. METHODS Data was extracted from t...

Introduction: Equity of access to primary health care (PHC) services is a fundamental goal of rural health policies and planning. Unfortunately, many rural and remote communities are characterised by significant inequities in PHC service availability, quality/performance and sustainability. This article investigates how best to ascertain the costs of delivering high quality PHC services across ...

OBJECTIVES This formative study is intended to generate questions and hypotheses regarding the relationship between health and outmigration from Alaska's rural communities. This study is the first to provide perspectives of rural Alaskans in the context of health concerns and health care delivery as determinants of outmigration. STUDY DESIGN The study collected secondary data through a compre...

background: primary health care is the major infrastructure of health care systems. it is clear that making and improving primary health care information systems would not be possible without awareness of their condition. therefore, this comparative study was conducted in order to determine the situation of primary health care information systems in health centers of tehran, iran. methods: this...