The Branch
A monthly update for NOSORH members and partners
November 2023
On November 16th, join forces with NOSORH, all 50 State Offices of Rural Health, and rural health supporters nationwide to celebrate the #PowerOfRural! National Rural Health Day (NRHD) is a time to show our appreciation for the dedicated professionals and advocates who tirelessly work to improve rural health. Whether you're a healthcare provider, a community leader, or simply someone who cares about rural, you can get involved in the celebrations and make a difference. Here’s what to expect on this special day and how you can get involved:

The hub for all things National Rural Health Day can be found at PowerofRural.org. Discover various resources, creative ideas, and the latest updates to make your celebration memorable.

Community Stars
The 2023 Community Stars will be revealed at PowerofRural.org on the morning of NRHD. NOSORH is proud to honor these 39 individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond to significantly impact rural health!

This toolkit offers free downloads to elevate your NRHD celebration. You'll find the brand-new logo, social media graphics and cover images, engaging activity sheets, a ready-to-use press release template, PowerPoint templates, posters, and more.

Social Media Engagement
Stay connected with the latest NRHD news by following @NOSORH on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Use the hashtags #PowerOfRural or #NationalRuralHealthDay, and be sure to tag @NOSORH in your social media posts to amplify the impact and join the nationwide conversation.

Do you have an event planned for National Rural Health Day? Share it with NOSORH at info@powerofrural.org so we can help spread the news and celebrate your contributions.

For questions or more information, please contact info@powerofrural.org.
Rural Health Policy Update
Update provided by Andrew Coats, NOSORH Legislative Liaison

As the calendar turns to November, the House resumes legislative work after weeks of turmoil. Number one on its To-Do list is funding the federal government ahead of the November 17 deadline. Congress averted a partial government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution (H.R. 5860) on September 30. The continuing resolution (CR) maintains federal funding at fiscal year (FY) 2023 levels through November 17. Newly elected Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (R-LA) circulated a letter to Congress last week outlining his intent for the House to complete consideration of the eight remaining appropriation bills before the November 17 deadline Read More
Wipfli Annual Rural Health Survey - Open Thru Nov 10th
Are you looking for industry benchmarks or want to know how your rural health organization is doing compared to others around the country? Wipfli, LLP, a healthcare consulting and advisory firm, invites NOSORH members and rural healthcare organizations from across the county to participate in their annual rural health survey. 
 
The survey takes less than 8 minutes to complete and covers key business issues like workforce development, patient experience, financial performance and digital transformation. As a thank you for participating, you will receive a complimentary downloadable report with all the results, including current trends, growth projections and top business strategies in rural health care. All responses are completely confidential and will be reported in aggregate only. Organizations will not be contacted for any solicitation of services. The deadline to complete the survey is November 10, 2023. 
Lutheran Services in America - Partners in Supporting Rural Communities
Lutheran Services in America (LSA) is a nationwide network of 300 health and human service organizations across 45 states, reaching 1 in 50 people living in America. Lutheran social ministries have had a deep and long-standing footprint in rural communities, with many organizations supporting older adults for over a century. We encourage you to check out their member map to identify nearby Lutheran organizations that can be partners in supporting your rural communities. LSA also leads the Rural Aging Action Network, a national collaborative dedicated to expanding sustainable community-based services and supports for older adults in rural communities of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Network focuses on expanding the circle of partners in aging by mobilizing whole communities to address gaps in care for older adults. Learn more about LSA by reading about their program and viewing their video series.
November
1
2:00 pm ET
Join Build Healthy Places Network for their Network Commons series. Learn how to co-create opportunities for community members to lead in the evaluation and decision-making processes to advance health and racial equity.
November
7
3:00 pm ET
Join NARHC for an upcoming webinar with experienced RHC practice manager Scott Robbins. This webinar will provide an overview of the RHC Emergency Preparedness requirements found in RHC regulation and interpretive guidance, review the important components of your EP manual, learn sample exercises, and more!
November
16
National Rural Health Day

November
18
Broadcast starts at 9:00 am ET
Earn up to 5.0 CME/CE credits by participating in this free, virtual live event for clinicians serving patients from rural and underserved communities. 
November
29
2:00 pm ET
This free webinar provides general information for new users and an opportunity for existing users to ask questions. Please register in advance to receive a calendar invite and full connection details. 
#PowerOfRural