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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: Pennsylvania

Screening Community Pharmacy Patients for Risk of Prescription Opioid Misuse
Examines the feasibility of screening patients for risks of opioid prescription misuse when filling prescriptions at rural and urban community pharmacies. Evaluates patients' behavioral, mental, and physical health to determine risk level. Includes rural versus urban data on gender, age, education, employment, and behavioral, mental, physical, and general health.
Author(s): Gerald Cochran, Jessica Rubinstein, Jennifer L. Bacci, Thomas Ylioja, Ralph Tarter
Citation: Journal of Addiction Medicine, 9(5), 411-416
Date: 2015
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Successful Health Insurance Outreach, Education, and Enrollment Strategies for Rural Hospitals
Shares best practices for hospitals to use in health insurance outreach and enrollment efforts based on interviews with administrators, staff, and community representatives at 11 small rural hospitals in 9 states. Also discusses certified application counselors, who help individuals enroll in health insurance, and the importance of using collaborative community partnerships to conduct insurance enrollment outreach and education.
Author(s): Walter Gregg, Alex Evenson, Adeniyi Togun
Date: 11/2014
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Economic Impact of a Rural Dentist
Measures the impact that dentists have on rural counties. Uses data from 13 rural dental clinics in Oklahoma, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.
Author(s): Gerald A. Doeksen, Fred C. Eilrich, Cheryl F. St. Clair
Date: 08/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Rural Health Works
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Design and Model Pre-Test Evaluation Report
Reports on the experiences of 19 states that received federal support to work on state health care innovation plans focused on developing innovative healthcare delivery and payment models. Discusses rural concerns in these states, as well as strategies to address rural healthcare needs. Some topics addressed include patient-centered medical homes, accountable care organizations, workforce, broadband access, electronic health record adoption, and telehealth.
Date: 07/2014
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Clinical, Sociodemographic and Service Provider Determinants of Guideline Concordant Colorectal Cancer Care for Appalachian Residents
Presents a study of Appalachian colorectal cancer patients diagnosed between 2006-2008 regarding their adherence to treatment guidelines by measuring rates of chemotherapy, lymph node assessment, and radiation treatments. Breaks down results by participants' age and type and severity of comorbidity, as well as several treatment facility factors, such as bed size and surgical volume, among others.
Author(s): Steven T. Fleming, Heath B. Mackley, Fabian Camacho, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 30(1), 27-39
Date: 01/2014
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Private Health Insurance: The Range of Base Premiums for Individuals Age 19 and 64 in the Individual Market by State in January 2013
Reports on the range of health insurance premiums offered to different categories of consumers in the individual market in the month of January 2013. As of 2014, insurers are no longer able to use gender or health status to set premiums and are restricted in the amount they can vary premiums based on age and tobacco use. Enclosure II, beginning on page 107, reports base premiums for an urban and rural zip code in four select states, one from each census region: Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2014
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Central Pennsylvania: Primary Care Physicians' Perspective
Describes a study examining the beliefs of primary care physicians regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and factors that may cause disparities in CRC screening for men compared to women in rural Pennsylvania. Includes analysis to identify potential solutions to overcome those barriers.
Author(s): Lara A. Rosenwasser, Jennifer McCall-Hosenfeld, Carol S. Weisman, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 13(4), 2504
Date: 10/2013
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Effects of PROSPER on the Influence Potential of Prosocial Versus Antisocial Youth in Adolescent Friendship Networks
Examines whether PROSPER, an evidence-based intervention, affects adolescent friendship networks with the goal of reducing peer influence toward antisocial behavior in 14 rural and small town school districts in Iowa and Pennsylvania. Discusses using social networks to address problem behaviors and potential implications to reduce peer influence encouraging problem behaviors, such as substance use and delinquency.
Author(s): D. Wayne Osgood, Mark E. Feinberg, Scott D. Gest, et al
Citation: Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(2), 174-179
Date: 08/2013
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Longitudinal Effects of Universal Preventive Intervention on Prescription Drug Misuse: Three Randomized Controlled Trials With Late Adolescents and Young Adults
Examines the results of 3 randomized controlled trials evaluating prescription drug misuse preventive interventions implemented in middle schools located in rural Pennsylvania and Iowa. The 3 studies included the Iowa Strengthening Families Program (ISFP), a revised ISFP - Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10–14 including school-based Life Skills training (SFP 10–14 + LST), and a Strengthening Families Program with school-based interventions (SFP 10–14). Discusses the benefits for public health impact by reducing prescription drug misuse among adolescents and young adults.
Author(s): Richard Spoth, Linda Trudeau, Chungyeol Shin, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health,103(4), 665-672.
Date: 04/2013
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Adapting School-Based Substance Use Prevention Curriculum Through Cultural Grounding: A Review and Exemplar of Adaptation Processes for Rural Schools
Describes the process that program designers used to adapt the urban evidence-based keepin' it REAL substance use prevention curriculum for use in rural schools in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Author(s): Margaret Colby, Michael L. Hecht, Michelle Miller-Day, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Community Psychology, 51(1-2), 190-205
Date: 03/2013
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