Consumer Health Information for Library Staff: Rural Health Resources

Evidence shows that there are marked health disparities between those living in rural areas versus their urban counterparts. Not only do rural residents suffer from higher incidence of chronic illness, they also have limited access to primary care services and are more likely to be uninsured or under-insured. This class will describe hallmarks of rural America, identify access challenges of living in rural communities, and equip participants with tools to service the health information needs of those living in rural communities. We will explore websites from the National Library of Medicine, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Rural Health Information Hub and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Each of the websites contains consumer-level information and offers an opportunity for data downloads.

This course is Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and qualifies for one credit towards Consumer Health Information Specialization.

Series Description:
Librarians and other information and health professionals know the life-saving and life-enhancing value of accurate health information. The courses in this series explore topics such as mental health information, health communication and literacy, health programming and rural health resources. Join us for one or all to expand your skills and knowledge to become a confident, expert provider of health information to your community.

The Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS), a program provided by the Medical Library Association (MLA). The MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) offers training in providing health information services to consumers and recognition for the accomplishment of acquiring new health information skills.

This series is sponsored by MINITEX and the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and qualifies for credit towards Consumer Health Information Specialization. 

This program is made available via the Professional Development Alliance of Library Consortia.