- Weathering the Storm Together: Community Resiliency Hubs Hold the Promise of Local Self-Sufficiency and Supportive Mutual Aid
- Virginia Tech Researchers Bring Rural Families into the Nation's Largest Study of Early Brain and Child Development
- Expanding Access to Cancer Care for Rural Veterans
- VA: Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting
- Scaling Rural Wellness with Clever Collaboration
- Stroudwater Associates Enhances Rural Healthcare Dashboard with New Data to Support State Rural Transformation Grant Applications
- Harvest Season Is Here: Busy Times Call for Increased Focus on Safety and Health
- HHS Dispatches More Than 70 Public Health Service Officers to Strengthen Care in Tribal Communities
- Wisconsin Rural Hospitals Team up to Form Network
- CMS Launches Landmark $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program
- American Heart Association Provides Blood Pressure Kits at Southeast Arkansas Regional Libraries to Support Rural Health
- Broadening Access to Minimally Invasive Surgery Could Narrow Rural-Urban Health Gaps
- Instead of Selling, Some Rural Hospitals Band Together To Survive
- Help Line Gives Pediatricians Crucial Mental Health Information to Help Kids, Families
- Rural Health: A Strategic Opportunity for Governors
National Pediatric Group Updates Fluoride Website
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated their website for the Campaign for Dental Health. The updates include focusing on the safety and facts about fluoride and a portal has been added for advocates to request support.
Trauma Systems Foundation: The Source for Trauma Centers in Pennsylvania
Headquartered in Camp Hill, PA, the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) is the accrediting body for trauma centers in Pennsylvania and supports hospitals in advancing trauma care to injured patients. From accreditation, to education, to trauma registry operations, and research support, the PTSF team is dedicated to supporting hospitals that serve injured patients in their region.
Click here for the most recent list of Trauma Centers in Pennsylvania, including Critical Access Hospitals that have been accredited as Level IV Trauma Centers.
The PTSF website includes information for Trauma Accreditation, the Trauma Registry, Research, and Performance Improvement.
Where Are Delinquencies Rising? Explore Regional Credit Data
The Consumer Credit Explorer, updated through Q2 2026, shows climbing delinquency rates — nearly 14 percent for credit card borrowers, over 9 percent for auto borrowers (a 20-year high), and over 13 percent for student loan borrowers.
Some regions show greater financial stress. Nearly 20 percent of credit card borrowers in the Vineland, NJ, metro area have severely delinquent debt, 6 points above the national average. Over 10 percent of Delaware’s auto borrowers carry severely delinquent debt, 1 point higher than the national average.
Explore the Philadelphia Fed’s Consumer Credit Explorer for detailed insights into U.S. credit and debt conditions at national, state, and regional levels.
Explore the Consumer Credit Tool!
A New Primary Care Workforce Model Emerges in Pennsylvania
Primary care shortages have been building for years, particularly in rural communities where recruiting a replacement physician can feel less like workforce planning and more like trying to win the lottery.
The Penn State College of Medicine is testing a new response: primary care medics.
The medical school plans to enroll its first cohort next summer, training students to work under licensed clinicians and complement physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician associates in rural primary care settings. The program will focus on chronic disease management, behavioral health, maternity care, oral health, and care for older adults.
A key part of the model is bringing care closer to patients. Primary care medics will be positioned to visit people in their homes, collect accurate data, and relay it back to the care team. That could be especially valuable in communities where access barriers, transportation challenges, and clinician shortages make proactive care difficult.
The workforce math is not getting easier. The Primary Care Collaborative projects a shortage of as many as 55,000 primary care physicians by 2033, and Penn State’s approach recognizes that health systems need more ways to extend clinical capacity without pretending every gap can be solved by hiring another physician.
New Research Examines Rural Hospital Sustainability and Healthcare Market Consolidation in Pennsylvania
A recent study finds persistent gaps in staffing, services, and health outcomes, with no consistent improvements associated with hospital consolidation
Rural hospitals continue to face significant workforce, service, and access challenges, while mergers, acquisitions, and health system affiliations were not associated with consistent improvements across key hospital measures, according to new research released by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
The report, Rural Hospitals in Pennsylvania in the Context of Healthcare Market Consolidations, was conducted by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University and examines general acute care hospitals across the Commonwealth from 2016 through 2023. Researchers combined statewide hospital data with interviews and virtual site visits to examine rural hospital utilization, service availability, quality, financial performance, and changes in hospital ownership.
The study found that rural hospitals generally operate with fewer physicians and registered nurses, lower patient volumes and occupancy rates, and fewer specialized services than urban hospitals. One of the most pronounced differences involved neonatal care: only about one in five rural hospitals provided Level II or higher neonatal intensive care, compared with approximately one-half of urban hospitals.
Across four major clinical conditions, rural hospitals also had higher mortality rates but lower 30-day readmission rates than urban hospitals, raising questions about how commonly used quality measures should be interpreted in rural settings.
The full report, Rural Hospitals in Pennsylvania in the Context of Healthcare Market Consolidations, is available at www.rural.pa.gov/publications/research-reports.
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Created in 1987 under the Rural Revitalization Act, the Center serves as a resource for rural policy within the General Assembly and works to promote and sustain the vitality of Pennsylvania’s rural and small communities.
Documentary Trailer Focuses on Minimally Invasive Oral Health Care
ChartHouse Films is set to release a new documentary on minimally invasive care and preventive dentistry. The documentary will feature interviews with Dr. Jeremy Keeper and Dr. Jonny Norris. Dr. Norris presented on minimally invasive dental care at the 2025 PA Oral Health Summit where he presented.
Just Released: 300K+ Updated Data Points on the Appalachian Region
A new data overview from ARC highlights continued economic progress across Appalachia, including declining poverty, rising income levels and improved educational attainment.
Key takeaways from the 16th annual edition of The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2020–2024 American Community Survey, also known as “The Chartbook,” are below. 📊
📉 Decline in Poverty Rates
The share of Appalachian residents in poverty fell by 1 percentage point between 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 — slightly outpacing the national decline of 0.9 points.
💵 Income Levels Up
Median household income in Appalachia increased by 4.3%, reaching $67K.
🎓 Higher Educational Attainment
Bachelor’s degree attainment among adults ages 25+ rose 3.3 percentage points to 28%. Among those degree holders, 31.8% earned their degree in a STEM field.
🏠 Lower Housing Cost Burdens
The share of cost‑burdened households in Appalachia is 7 percentage points below the U.S. average.
🌄 Strong Population Growth in Southern Appalachia
Southern Appalachia grew by 15% between 2010 and 2024.
We’re also excited to share that, for the first time, The Chartbook analyzes Appalachian counties according to their designation in ARC’s County Economic Status Classification System.
The Chartbook offers a world of insight into the Appalachian Region — explore it now!
Advocacy in Action: How Kentucky Protected Community Water Fluoridation and Medicaid Access
What does effective advocacy look like?
A recent article from the CareQuest Institute highlights how oral health advocates in Kentucky successfully worked to protect community water fluoridation and preserve access to dental care for Medicaid beneficiaries.
As Pennsylvania community health centers continue to serve as key access points for oral health services, this case study offers valuable insights into coalition-building, patient advocacy, and policy engagement.
Planning a School-Based Dental Event? Apply for Free Supply Kits
Through the Henry Schein Cares Package, eligible community health centers can request free turnkey supply kits designed to support school-based dental education and outreach. Whether you’re planning a dental screening or oral health education event, these kits can help you focus on providing care instead of sourcing supplies.
Learn more about the Henry Schein Cares Package, review eligibility requirements, and submit your request today.
March of Dimes Releases New Maternal Care Deserts Report
The March of Dimes recently released their 2026 report Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S.
The report provides one of the most comprehensive analyses of maternity care access across the country and shows that, while some communities have made progress, too many families still face significant barriers to receiving the care they need.