The Minnesota Rural Health Conference is releasing three podcasts this week to celebrate (Commemorate?) National Rural Health day. The final one most directly mentions telehealth but given the incredible growth of telehealth in 2020, I suspect it will come up in all three….

Rural Health IS a Health Equity Issue (30 min)

Release Date: November 17, 2020

Podcast Guest: Jan Malcolm, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health

Podcast Host: Zora Radosevich, Director, Minnesota Department of Health – Office of Rural Health & Primary Care

The ORHPC’s Director will have a discussion with the Commissioner about why rural health issues deserve special attention, how the Minnesota Department of Health supports health care professionals in rural areas, and what some of the important issues are in addressing the pandemic and its impact on rural MN.

Impact of COVID-19 in Minnesota (30 min)

Release Date: November 18, 2020

Podcast Guest: Dr. Nicholas Lehnertz, Medical Specialist 2, Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control, Minnesota Department of Health

Podcast Host: Mark Jones, Director, Minnesota Rural Health Association (MRHA)

Dr. Lehnertz discusses the impact of COVID-19 in Minnesota, specifically in rural areas. Hear the most up-to-date data concerning cases, deaths, testing, race-related disparities, and new findings. Learn best practices for staying safe this winter and through the holidays as well as advice to prepare rural hospitals for the next 6-12 months.

The Effect of COVID on Minnesota’s Healthcare Workforce (30 min)

Release Date: November 19, 2020

Podcast Guest: Teri Fritsma, Senior Research Analyst, Minnesota Department of Health – Office of Rural Health & Primary Care

Podcast Host: Nitika Moibi, Health Workforce Analysis Supervisor, Minnesota Department of Health – Office of Rural Health & Primary Care

Nitika Moibi and Teri Fritsma will discuss the rapid transformation that COVID has brought to the health care workforce in Minnesota – reduced hours, layoffs, and even rural retirements in certain sectors of health care. On the other hand, COVID has also caused the swift expansion of telemedicine—a likely permanent change that could improve Minnesotans’ access to care now and well into the future. Hear what health care providers say are their greatest concerns during this period.

Following Accessibility Standards 

All podcasts are also available on YouTube and include closed captioning which allows people to read spoken dialogue, as well as non-speech information, like music or sound effects.