Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is proud to announce it has been awarded a sub-contract from Findhelp as part of TennCare's Health Starts Initiative.

Findhelp is a technology company that connects individuals needing social care services with community providers in an efficient and easy-to-navigate Closed-Loop Referral System (CLRS), while protecting privacy. They will provide the technology that allows TennCare to assess non-medical risk factors of individuals in need through a unified approach and refer them to community-based organizations that can meet their needs, while tracking outcomes.

This week we recognize our community health centers in honor of National Community Health Centers Week, August 6th-12th. Community Health Centers (CHCs) dismantle obstacles to healthcare by catering to every patient, regardless of their insurance situation or financial capacity. They furnish care that is culturally and linguistically suitable, and extend enabling services to tackle non-medical necessities.

CHCs represent consumer-oriented and patient-centric institutions that fulfill the role of a comprehensive and economically viable primary healthcare solution for the most marginalized communities. These centers enhance healthcare accessibility and deliver integrated services tailored to the distinct needs of the populations they support. 

We proudly announce that Anna Jaujan, an employee at LifeSpring Community Health, obtained her phlebotomy certification! Our Workforce Development Program funded the cost of her practice materials, study guides, and the exam fee.

The key to RHA’s success is our ability to customize the program based on the needs of the employer. By applying U.S. Department of Labor models to the healthcare setting, RHA supports employers and training partners looking to recruit, retain, and upskill healthcare workers.

Dorothy Monroe and Jennifer Strope are nurse practitioners at Sweetwater Family Medicine in Sweetwater, TN. As participants of RHA's Workforce Development Program, they attended, completed, and received certifications in Suturing and Injections.

Shortly after this training, Jennifer was able to utilize her new skills and provided stitches to a patient in need who would otherwise travelled a long distance to an emergency room for care. Expanding the skill sets of our rural healthcare professionals means lower costs, better outcomes for patients, and healthier, happier communities.

Our participants completed their courses with our Workforce Partner, Professional Allied Health, in Memphis, TN, and received the following certifications: Phlebotomy - Jerrian Romero, Kenisha Whitelow, and Bralyn Harris, and CNA - Cache Lewis. 

The key to RHA’s success is our ability to customize the program based on the needs of the employer. By applying U.S. Department of Labor models to the healthcare setting, RHA supports employers and training partners looking to recruit, retain, and upskill healthcare workers.

Congratulations to the following RHA members for their recent grant awards from TDH in the state's commitment to healthcare resiliency and transformation in the following categories: 

Practice Transformation and Extension Grant Program – Hospitals
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Unity Medical Center, Macon Community Hospital

Practice Transformation and Extension Grant Program - Other Health and Healthcare Service Providers
Access Medical Care of Monroe County, Bledsoe County School District, Bradley County Schools, Dayton County Schools, East Tennessee State University, Healing Hands Health Center, Inc. , Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, Inc., Servolution Health Services, Inc., UT Health Science Center, Van Buren County Schools.

RHA is delighted to share a summary of our member events and  programs for 2022. Thank you to our members, staff, funders, and many community partners for your support the past year!

Click here to view the online report
Click here to download a PDF of the report

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) celebrated National Rural Health Day in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on November 17, 2022, to honor those who work every day to help keep Tennessee healthy. 

The celebration was part of a three-day event bringing rural health providers, school health, and others together to deepen understanding of rural health issues and celebrate rural leaders leading the way for a healthy tomorrow throughout rural Tennessee. The below individuals were recognized for their outstanding service to rural health. 

Rural Health Association of Tennessee has been awarded the Partnership and Leadership Award from the Tennessee Public Health Association 

Congratulations to Jalynn Burress, Calandra Traylor, Errion Bells, and Adrienne Williams, who became Certified Licensed Phlebotomist in the month of September. They attended the phlebotomy course at Professional Allied Health, LLC in Memphis. The participants were referred by Kimberly Burse, Staff Development Coordinator, at Pine Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Bolivar, TN. They have been working with Maddy Rymer and Patty Lane, workforce development staff at the Rural Health Association of TN. 

Delta Regional Authority grant funding made it possible for the RHA workforce team to provide supportive services and case management support for the past six months.  Employees are encouraged to gain additional certifications and credentials along their healthcare journey.

RHA of TN would like to congratulate Ann Cranford the Director of the Recruitment and Retention Program in the State Office of Rural Health.

Ann has been a member of RHA of TN for several years. Recently, at the 3RNet Annual Conference she received the Fred Moskol Award. This award recognizes a person who possesses outstanding leadership abilities, supports the mission of 3RNET, responds compassionately to the healthcare needs of rural and underserved populations and does so with a collaborative and compassionate spirit. 

Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) has been awarded a $1million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to combat Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in rural Tennessee over the next three years.

The announcement comes during National Recovery Month – an observance to bring public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery. Tennessee, via the Behavioral Health Safety Network, prevention coalitions, and other change agents, have achieved many successes toward reducing Substance Use Disorder in the state. Most notably, opioid prescriptions have decreased statewide, resulting in fewer deaths involving opioids obtained through a prescription. Targeted prevention, treatment, and recovery programs do work.

Allie Haynes will represent Rural Health Association of Tennessee on Tennessee Council on Developmental  Disabilities.  The Council, established by the federal Developmental Disabilities Act (Spanish language version of the Developmental Disabilities Act.) and by Tennessee Executive Order 50 exists to:

• Build bridges between the experiences of real people with disabilities and the policies and service systems that affect their lives.
• See the big picture across government programs to help connect dots and fill gaps to meet real needs.. 
• Use these connections to make change toward greater inclusion, independence, and self-determination for people with disabilities in Tennessee.

To learn more about the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, visit their website.