Rural Health Symposium 2025

National Rural Health Day, September 2025
https://powerofrural.org/

A Guide for Rural Health Care Collaboration and Coordination, HRSA
https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/rural-health/resources/hrsa-rural-collaboration-guide.pdf

A Playbook for New Rural Healthcare Partnership Models of Investment, Public Health Institute
https://www.phi.org/thought-leadership/new-rural-healthcare-partnership-models-of-investment/

Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide: Cultivating Digital Health Innovation in America’s Heartland
https://www.7wireventures.com/perspectives/bridging-the-rural-urban-divide-cultivating-digital-health-innovation-in-americas-heartland/

Leveraging Partnerships and Data to Improve Rural Health and Well-Being
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/Leveraging%20Partnerships%20and%20Data%20to%20Improve%20Rural%20Health%20and%20Well-Being.pdf

Re-Imagining Rural Health, CMS
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/reimagining-rural-health-strategy.pdf

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a system that provides immediate health and safety care to people who are injured or suddenly become ill. EMS systems include personnel, equipment, and facilities to respond to emergencies. 

How does EMS work? 

Respond to calls
EMS professionals respond to calls for medical assistance, such as car accidents.

Assess the patient
EMS professionals assess the patient's condition and determine what treatment is needed.

Provide treatment
EMS professionals provide treatment, such as first aid or life support care.

Types of EMS systems

• Government EMS: Funded by local or national governments, these services may work independently or with other departments. 
• Private EMS: These services may be for-profit or non-profit. 
• Hospital-based EMS: These services are based in hospitals. 
• Fire- or police-linked EMS: These services are linked to fire or police departments. 

Medical oversight 
Medical directors, physicians, and other healthcare professionals oversee the quality of care provided by EMS providers.

The Different Types of EMS Services, EMS Agenda 2050
https://emsagenda2050.org/the-different-types-of-ems-services/

Healthcare Resilience Task Force: EMS/911, US Dept. of Homeland Security
https://www.ems.gov/assets/COVID-19_EMS_911_Briefing.pdf

What Is EMS?, ems.gov
https://www.ems.gov/what-is-ems/#:~:text=Emergency%20Medical%20Services%2C%20more%20commonly,highly%20skilled%20pre%2Dhospital%20clinicians.

Models of International Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Systems
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3191661/#:~:text=An%20Emergency%20Medical%20Service%20(EMS,focuses%20on%20providing%20timely%20care

Components of EMS systems and their roles, MedicTests
https://medictests.com/units/components-of-the-ems-system#:~:text=Medical%20oversight%20%2D%20Medical%20oversight%20includes%20medical,that%20high%20standards%20of%20care%20are%20maintained

Climate change in North Carolina is causing a number of health problems, including heat-related illness, respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease. Climate change is also exacerbating existing health inequities. 

Health effects

Heat-related illness
Heat waves can cause heat stroke, dehydration, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion. 

Respiratory disease
Ground-level ozone, a component of smog, can aggravate lung diseases like asthma. 

Cardiovascular disease
High temperatures can increase your heart rate, which can lead to cardiovascular problems. 

Mental health
Extreme weather events can cause stress and mental health problems. 

Vector-borne diseases
Changing weather patterns can increase the population of mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, which can spread illnesses to new areas. 

Vulnerable populations

• Children, older adults, and low-income earners are disproportionately affected. 
• Immigrant agricultural workers are especially vulnerable to the effects of rising temperatures. 
• Rural communities are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including flooding and drought. 

Adaptation

• The North Carolina Climate and Health Program works to build community resilience to climate change. 
• The CDC's Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) grant program helps health officials develop strategies to prepare communities for the impact of climate change.

Climate Change, cleanAirenc
https://cleanairenc.org/what-we-do/climate-change/

Climate change and rural NC, Carolina Demography
https://carolinademography.cpc.unc.edu/2022/03/31/climate-change-and-rural-nc/#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20Dare%20and%20Hyde,short%20supply%20in%20Wake%20County).

Epidemiology: Occupational and Environmental, NC DHHS
https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oee/programs/climate.html#:~:text=North%20Carolina%20is%20experiencing%20hotter,analyses%2C%20and%20providing%20technical%20expertise.

North Carolina Climate and Health Implementation and Monitoring Strategy (IMS) for Heat-Related Illness
https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oee/climate/HeatIMSNorthCarolinaExecutiveSummary.pdf

Preparing for the Health Impacts of a Changing Climate
https://convergence.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/381/2021/03/Preparing-for-the-Health-Impacts-of-a-Changing-Climate.pdf

What Climate Change Means for North Carolina, EPA
https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-nc.pdf