October 2026 Center for Rural Health Update

FOCUS on Rural Health

The Gateway to Rural Health Research
The Rural Health Research Gateway works with the Rural Health Research Centers to connect the public with rural-oriented research.

News

North Dakota Receives Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Grant
The North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN) will partner with North Dakota Health and Human Services to carry out traumatic brain injury initiatives across the state.

Five North Dakota Hospitals Named Among Top 20 in Nation
Five Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) received awards in September.

A Request for Information from Rural Communities Is Now Available
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requesting information from rural communities and organizations regarding public health data exchange. The deadline to respond is November 20.

From "Suck It Up" to Sit Out: North Dakota Youth Sports Rethink Concussions
This article highlights the work of NDBIN in raising awareness of concussions in youth sports.
Source: InForum

Funding & Other Opportunities

Critical Access Hospital Subcontract Program
The CAH Subcontract Program currently has approximately $41,000 available for the Financial/Operational Improvement Area of Choice. The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Implementation Activity has four awards of up to $2,500 available.
Application deadline: October 30

Who Makes A Difference in Your Community?
To celebrate the amazing people and organizations in rural North Dakota, the Center for Rural Health (CRH) is asking you to send us photos/videos of those making a difference in your community, along with a short description of their impact in rural North Dakota. On November 19, 2026, as part of our National Rural Health Day campaign, CRH will share these stories on social media.
Submission deadline: November 18

Upcoming Events

October 19‑23	Primary Care Week In-person: University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences Multiple events October 19-23
October 28	Webinar: Your Story Matters – How Real Patients Help Shape the Next Generation of Speech-Language Pathologists Through Virtual Patient Education (VPEd) Virtual 1:30 pm Central October 28 NDBIN
November 5	New Qualified Service Provider (QSP): Next Steps Monthly Meeting Virtual 11:00 am Central November 5 North Dakota QSP Hub
November 10	TeleECHO: Pelvic Floor Health Virtual 12:00 pm Central November 10 Project ECHO
November 16	QSP Quarterly Update Meeting Virtual 11:00 am Central November 16 North Dakota QSP Hub
November 19	Care in Practice Webinar: Music Therapy Virtual 10:00 am Central November 19 North Dakota QSP Hub
November 19	National Rural Health Day November 19 State Office of Rural Health

Publications & Resources

AI in Rural Healthcare Toolkit
Developed by the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, this new AI in Rural Healthcare Toolkit provides information and resources to help rural healthcare organizations work through considerations related to adopting artificial intelligence. It offers guidance to plan, implement, evaluate, and sustain AI programs, highlighting emerging program models, practical tools, and examples of rural organizations successfully using AI.

Philanthropic Funding Helps Rural Providers Access Ultrasound Equipment and Training
RHIhub's latest Rural Monitor article explores how funding from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is helping rural healthcare facilities in Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, and Wyoming purchase ultrasound equipment, access training, and secure tuition assistance. Providers share their experiences with the funding and using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to assess patients at their bedside.

Regional Highlights: Changes in Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in the U.S., 2010-2024
From the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, the purpose of this report is to provide highlights of hospital-level changes in obstetric care availability across the four U.S. Census regions, both over time (2010-2024) and in the most recent year of data available (2024). Distributed by the Rural Health Research Gateway.

Professional Quality of Life, Team Cohesion, Organizational Commitment, and Intent to Leave Among Nursing Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study
This Journal of Nursing Management article, co-authored by Kristen Leighton, senior research analyst at CRH, examines whether professional quality of life, team cohesion, and organizational commitment were independently associated with intent to leave among nursing personnel.