Rural Health
Resources by State: Pennsylvania
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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Safe Minimum Nurse Staffing Requirements for Hospitals: Evidence from Pennsylvania
Explores the variation in nurse staffing ratios at 132 Pennsylvania hospitals in 2023. Examines whether medical-surgical nurse staffing ratios are associated with nurse job outcomes, patient clinical outcomes, and hospital costs. Compares findings by rural and urban hospital location. Describes the potential implications of minimum nurse staffing policies in Pennsylvania on nurses, patient care, and costs.
Author(s): K. Jane Muir, Linda H. Aiken, Heather Brom, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(7), 447-455
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the variation in nurse staffing ratios at 132 Pennsylvania hospitals in 2023. Examines whether medical-surgical nurse staffing ratios are associated with nurse job outcomes, patient clinical outcomes, and hospital costs. Compares findings by rural and urban hospital location. Describes the potential implications of minimum nurse staffing policies in Pennsylvania on nurses, patient care, and costs.
Author(s): K. Jane Muir, Linda H. Aiken, Heather Brom, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(7), 447-455
Date: 07/2026
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Collaborations Between Local Public Health and Healthcare: A Case Study Series Highlighting Rural Success Stories
Presents case studies highlighting successful collaborations between rural-serving local health departments and local healthcare organizations, focusing on purposes, structures, challenges, and lessons learned. Features programs in Oregon, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Stephanie M. Mathis, Kayla M. Alvis, Benjamin Pelton, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, The Consortium for Workforce Research in Public Health
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Presents case studies highlighting successful collaborations between rural-serving local health departments and local healthcare organizations, focusing on purposes, structures, challenges, and lessons learned. Features programs in Oregon, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Stephanie M. Mathis, Kayla M. Alvis, Benjamin Pelton, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research, The Consortium for Workforce Research in Public Health
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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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A Study Pursuant to (Pennsylvania) Senate Resolution 27: Feasibility of a No-Fault Catastrophic Loss Fund for Birth-Related Neurological Injuries
Results of a study on the possibility of establishing a fund for claims brought due to birth-related neurological injuries in Pennsylvania. Discusses the disparity between obstetric care in urban and rural areas and the decreased access to maternity care due to closures of labor and delivery (L&D) units. Contains various statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing availability of L&D units and travel times to birthing hospitals.
Author(s): Stevi Sprenkle, Stephen Kramer, Shanika Mitchell-Saint Jean, Amy Hockenberry, James Wynne
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Budget and Finance Committee of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
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Results of a study on the possibility of establishing a fund for claims brought due to birth-related neurological injuries in Pennsylvania. Discusses the disparity between obstetric care in urban and rural areas and the decreased access to maternity care due to closures of labor and delivery (L&D) units. Contains various statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing availability of L&D units and travel times to birthing hospitals.
Author(s): Stevi Sprenkle, Stephen Kramer, Shanika Mitchell-Saint Jean, Amy Hockenberry, James Wynne
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Legislative Budget and Finance Committee of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
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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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