HealthTeamWorks

05/14/2026

This Rural Health Information Hub article is a great read about how a Federally Qualified Health Center in rural Louisiana is helping patients with chronic conditions better understand and manage their medications through a collaborative approach that connects nurse health coaches and clinical pharmacists.

The article emphasizes the importance of relationship-building, trust, medication literacy, care coordination, and meeting patients where they are — especially in rural communities where access to healthcare can be challenging.

Read the full article here: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/rural-monitor/intersect-program

The Intersect program at Arbor Family Health connects chronic disease patients with nurse health coaches and clinical pharmacists.

05/11/2026

Mental health support for children and teens starts with awareness, connection, and early action. Parents, caregivers, educators, and peers are often the first to notice when something feels different—changes in mood, sleep, appetite, or behavior can be important signs that a young person may need support.

A recent SAMHSA blog shares a powerful example of how one student’s quick thinking helped connect a friend to the help they needed after recognizing warning signs learned through a school mental health program. Read the blog here: https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/one-students-quick-thinking-shows-coordinated-action-through-samhsa-program-youth-mental-health-works

05/08/2026

A new brief from KFF takes a closer look at rural nursing homes and the important role they play in supporting older adults and long-term care in rural communities.

The brief explores trends in staffing, ownership, resident populations, and access to care — and highlights how changes in policy and funding may impact rural facilities moving forward.

Read the brief here: https://www.kff.org/medicaid/a-closer-look-at-rural-nursing-homes/

This analysis compares the characteristics of nursing homes in rural areas with those in urban areas. This brief uses data from Nursing Home Compare, a publicly available dataset that provides a snapshot of information on quality of care in each nursing home.

05/07/2026

Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month — a time to recognize the valuable contributions of older adults, highlight important aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting healthy aging in our communities.

This year’s theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as key foundations for healthy aging. It encourages individuals to take an active role in managing their health, accessing preventive care, advocating for themselves, and making informed decisions that support independence and well-being.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers helpful tips and resources on healthy aging. Learn more here:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-aging/about/index.html.

05/06/2026

With demand for mental health and substance use disorder services continuing to rise, workforce shortages remain a major challenge across the country.

A recent article from Health Affairs explores policy opportunities states can consider to strengthen and expand the mental health workforce — including reducing barriers to licensure, supporting paraprofessional roles, and improving access to care.

A thoughtful read on the future of the behavioral health workforce and the importance of building sustainable pathways to care.

Read the article here: https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/grow-mental-health-workforce-streamline-licensure-and-make-licenses-portable

05/05/2026

A great listen from NAMI with CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., Dr. Ken Duckworth, and Dr. Christine Crawford, reflecting on how mental health care has evolved—and where we need to go next. A powerful conversation on access, stigma, and the future of care.
Listen to the podcase here: https://www.nami.org/hope-starts-with-us/hope-starts-with-us-how-mental-health-care-has-evolved/

For the 100th episode of “Hope Starts With Us,” NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. is joined by outgoing Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ken Duckworth and Dr. Christine Crawford, our incoming chief medical officer. Together, the trio explores the past and future of mental health care. During their conve...

05/04/2026

Mental health conditions are medical conditions—and people living with them are more than a diagnosis. This , let’s lead with understanding and compassion, recognizing the whole person behind every experience.

Taking time to listen, reduce stigma, and support one another can make a meaningful difference in our communities.

Learn more: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health

05/01/2026

Doctors cant befriend their patients, but more and more they’ve been leaning on a concept called “social prescribing.” It’s a way of treating the whole patient and not just the symptoms.

How? By writing prescriptions for things like nature walks, art classes, book clubs, singing lessons, and more. All of these activities are shown to boost mental health, decrease loneliness, and create a domino effect of positive health outcomes.

Read more in this article from Upworthy: https://www.upworthy.com/doctors-are-doing-more-and-more-social-prescribing/

The results are hard to deny.

04/30/2026

A recent article from Health Affairs highlights how the Rural Health Transformation Program could unlock long-overdue progress—bringing critical investment to strengthen infrastructure, expand workforce capacity, and make accountable care more viable in rural communities.
Read more:

The capital flowing into rural communities through the Rural Health Transformation Program can unlock previously unattainable progress, creating a window to address resource constraints, and make accountable care more viable at scale in rural America.

04/29/2026

A recent article from the Primary Care Collaborative highlights growing frustration among Americans with the healthcare system—especially related to cost and access.

With 84% of Americans worried about affordability and availability of care, the article underscores the need to invest more in primary care and shift toward value-based models that improve outcomes while reducing costs.
Read more: https://thepcc.org/news/americans-are-fed-up-with-our-broken-health-system/

A March 2026 Gallup poll found that Americans say the availability and affordability of health care is their top policy concern.

04/28/2026

Maintaining a healthy weight isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about balance over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight comes down to a combination of healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep, all supported by consistent daily habits.

Even small, consistent changes—like increasing activity or adjusting nutrition—can make a meaningful difference in long-term health.

But knowledge alone isn’t always enough.

In chronic care management, care teams are essential partners in supporting patient self-care and sustainable behavior change. Patients achieve the best outcomes when they are engaged, heard, and empowered to take an active role in their health.

HealthTeamWorks' Clinical Health Coach® v-Fusion training focuses on building these essential skills for care teams:
• Patient empowerment techniques to support lasting health behavior change
• Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills to guide meaningful patient conversations
• Communication skills to strengthen patient engagement and self-management

Participants practice real-world skills through interactive, small-group learning with expert feedback.

Learn more about Clinical Health Coach® v-Fusion training: https://healthteamworks.org/chc-v-fusion/

A good reminder to revisit healthy habits: https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/about/tips-for-balancing-food-activity.html