July 13, 2026: Maternity Care Deserts, Rising Public Health Threats & Paramedics in Pick-Ups

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, “Stopping the Loss of Rural Maternity Care,” June 2026, https://chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Maternity_Care_Crisis.pdf. Stephanie Armour, “New Disease Threats Follow Trump Administration’s Health Program Cuts,” July 2, 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/public-health/new-disease-threats-follow-trump-administrations-health-program-cuts/, KFF Health News. Grace van Deelen, “Trump Administration to Remove Hundreds of Deep-Ocean Observation Instruments, Dismantling $368 Million Program,” June 3, 2026, https://eos.org/research-and-developments/trump-administration-to-remove-hundreds-of-deep-ocean-observation-instruments-dismantling-368-million-program, Eos. U.S. Department of Agriculture, “USDA Confirms Presence of New World Screwworm in the United States,” June 3, 2026, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states. Nikhil Ranadive, M.D. Et al., “CDC Operational Guidance for Investigating Locally Acquired Mosquito-Transmitted Malaria,” May 21, 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/rr/rr7501a1.htm. Sarah J. Topping, “Statement from the Southampton Town Trustees Regarding Vibrio Vulnificus,” April 23, 2026, https://www.southamptontownny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46859/04-23-2026-Trustees-Press-Release---Statement-from-the-Southampton-Town-Trustees-Regarding-Vibrio-vulnificus, Town of Southampton Board of Trustees. Rick Mayer, “Florida is up to eight cases of Vibrio vulnificus – so-called 'flesh-eating bacteria' – in 2026,” June 12, 2026, https://www.wusf.org/health-news-florida/2026-06-12/florida-is-up-to-eight-cases-of-vibrio-vulnificus-so-called-flesh-eating-bacteria-in-2026, WUSF. Amy Maxmen, “‘We Live With Fear’: In Congo, Doctors Face Ebola With Little Protection,” June 5, 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/public-health/ebola-congo-virus-outbreak-drc-africa-health-workers-bundibugyo/, KFF Health News. U.S. Agency for International Development, https://oig.usaid.gov/. Molly Castle Work, “Minnesota's ‘sprint medic' pilot program aims to get paramedics to rural emergencies faster,” July 1, 2026, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/30/minnesotas-sprint-medic-pilot-program-aims-to-get-paramedics-to-rural-emergencies-faster, Minnesota Public Radio News. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.