Rural Health
Resources by State: Pennsylvania
The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey Chartbook
Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Underground Power Lines in Pennsylvania
Reviews the structure of the electrical grid and the reliability of electric service in Pennsylvania. Discusses common causes of outages, financial and health impacts associated with outages, and the impact of severe weather on the electric grid. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Bryan W. DeWalt, Jae Wan Ahn, Karen Maynard, Richard Hoey, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Reviews the structure of the electrical grid and the reliability of electric service in Pennsylvania. Discusses common causes of outages, financial and health impacts associated with outages, and the impact of severe weather on the electric grid. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Bryan W. DeWalt, Jae Wan Ahn, Karen Maynard, Richard Hoey, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Rural Hospitals in Pennsylvania in the Context of Healthcare Market Consolidations
Provides an assessment of rural hospitals in Pennsylvania, comparing them to urban hospitals. Examines factors potentially associated with mergers, acquisitions, and health system affiliations, based on interviews and virtual site visits with selected hospitals from 2016-2023. Includes county-level data on available services, utilization, number of beds and more.
Author(s): Yunfeng Shi, Amy Yeung, Tess Wilson, Lisa Davis
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Provides an assessment of rural hospitals in Pennsylvania, comparing them to urban hospitals. Examines factors potentially associated with mergers, acquisitions, and health system affiliations, based on interviews and virtual site visits with selected hospitals from 2016-2023. Includes county-level data on available services, utilization, number of beds and more.
Author(s): Yunfeng Shi, Amy Yeung, Tess Wilson, Lisa Davis
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Behavioral Health Council Action Plan - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Examines the current state of Pennsylvania's behavioral healthcare system, highlights areas for improvement, and offers recommendations to improve access to mental health and addiction care services. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council
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Examines the current state of Pennsylvania's behavioral healthcare system, highlights areas for improvement, and offers recommendations to improve access to mental health and addiction care services. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council
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More Than Half of Rural Counties Declined Faster Than Projected: An Analysis of the 2025 Census Data - Pennsylvania
Examines Pennsylvania population trends and the components driving them. Features statistics on percent changes in demographic characteristics between 2025 census estimates and 2023 Center for Rural Pennsylvania projections, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas. Includes county- and municipal-level maps showing changes in population from 2024 to 2025, and county-by-county statistics showing population changes from 2020 to 2025.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Examines Pennsylvania population trends and the components driving them. Features statistics on percent changes in demographic characteristics between 2025 census estimates and 2023 Center for Rural Pennsylvania projections, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas. Includes county- and municipal-level maps showing changes in population from 2024 to 2025, and county-by-county statistics showing population changes from 2020 to 2025.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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How Primary Care Medics Can Bring Needed Health Care to Rural Americans
Describes Penn State College of Medicine's Primary Care Medic Project, a certificate-based pathway under development that will train local individuals to deliver primary and preventive care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Discusses how primary care medics will fill gaps between community-based outreach and licensed primary care providers. Compares the scope of practice of primary care medics with those of community health workers, paramedics, and registered nurses, among others.
Author(s): Mark B. Stephens, Robin W. Weinick
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Describes Penn State College of Medicine's Primary Care Medic Project, a certificate-based pathway under development that will train local individuals to deliver primary and preventive care under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Discusses how primary care medics will fill gaps between community-based outreach and licensed primary care providers. Compares the scope of practice of primary care medics with those of community health workers, paramedics, and registered nurses, among others.
Author(s): Mark B. Stephens, Robin W. Weinick
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Effect of Health Literacy on use of a Virtual Coach to Promote Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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A Comparative Analysis of Job Satisfaction and Intent to Leave Among Rural and Urban Caseworkers in Pennsylvania's Child Welfare Agencies
Findings from a survey of Pennsylvania child welfare caseworkers, identifying factors influencing job satisfaction, performance, and intent to leave. Recommends changes at the agency level and state-level policy changes related to child welfare caseworker workload, salaries, and funding. Features statistics including staff turnover from 2019-2023 with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and reported cases of child abuse in 2023 with breakdowns by county.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Yoon Mi Kim, George Kovarie, Soohyoung Rain Lee
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Findings from a survey of Pennsylvania child welfare caseworkers, identifying factors influencing job satisfaction, performance, and intent to leave. Recommends changes at the agency level and state-level policy changes related to child welfare caseworker workload, salaries, and funding. Features statistics including staff turnover from 2019-2023 with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and reported cases of child abuse in 2023 with breakdowns by county.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Yoon Mi Kim, George Kovarie, Soohyoung Rain Lee
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Assessing Homeowner Perspectives and Barriers to Maintenance of On-Lot Septic Systems in Rural Pennsylvania
Results of a study surveying septic system users in Pennsylvania in 2024 and 2025 to assess whether residents follow current maintenance guidelines, to examine barriers and needs for proper maintenance, and to evaluate water contaminants in private water sources. Features statistics including age of systems, pumping frequency, and contaminant detection frequencies of water samples, including drinking water.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Faith A. Kibuye, Andy Yencha, Susan Boser
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of a study surveying septic system users in Pennsylvania in 2024 and 2025 to assess whether residents follow current maintenance guidelines, to examine barriers and needs for proper maintenance, and to evaluate water contaminants in private water sources. Features statistics including age of systems, pumping frequency, and contaminant detection frequencies of water samples, including drinking water.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Faith A. Kibuye, Andy Yencha, Susan Boser
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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2025 Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary
Summarizes data related to farm fatal injuries in Pennsylvania in 2025. Includes statistics on victim demographics, types of injuries, and events leading to fatal injuries, and features a county-level map showing numbers of farm fatalities.
Author(s): Florence Becot
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Penn State Extension
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Summarizes data related to farm fatal injuries in Pennsylvania in 2025. Includes statistics on victim demographics, types of injuries, and events leading to fatal injuries, and features a county-level map showing numbers of farm fatalities.
Author(s): Florence Becot
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Penn State Extension
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