Rural Health
Resources by State: Pennsylvania
Promising Flex Program Initiatives to Support Critical Access Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reports on promising State Flex Program (SFP) strategies to support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and address priority needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights initiatives implemented by SFPs in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. Discusses strategies regarding support for frontline staff, staff communication, communication to rural communities, clinical and service improvement, and CAH and Rural Health Clinic financial performance. Discusses ongoing considerations and concerns.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, John Gale
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Reports on promising State Flex Program (SFP) strategies to support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and address priority needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights initiatives implemented by SFPs in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. Discusses strategies regarding support for frontline staff, staff communication, communication to rural communities, clinical and service improvement, and CAH and Rural Health Clinic financial performance. Discusses ongoing considerations and concerns.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, John Gale
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania - COVID-19 Resources
Highlights resources and information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic for Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems. Features information on testing, treatment, and supplies.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
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Highlights resources and information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic for Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems. Features information on testing, treatment, and supplies.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
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Coordination of Veterans Services in Pennsylvania: A Task Force and Advisory Committee Report
Describes networks of services available to Pennsylvania veterans, examines how accessible these services are, and offers recommendations for improvement to ensure that veterans get the assistance and care to which they are entitled. Includes a section on rural veterans and the challenges they face in accessing healthcare.
Author(s): Frank M. Lill, Glenn J. Pasewicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Describes networks of services available to Pennsylvania veterans, examines how accessible these services are, and offers recommendations for improvement to ensure that veterans get the assistance and care to which they are entitled. Includes a section on rural veterans and the challenges they face in accessing healthcare.
Author(s): Frank M. Lill, Glenn J. Pasewicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Measuring Neighborhood Deprivation for Childhood Health and Development: Scale Implications in Rural and Urban Context
Examines administrative neighborhood definitions such as census tract, block group, and school district as well as egocentric GIS neighborhood definitions in relationship to socioeconomic deprivation and their impact on childhood health and development. Utilizes the Family Life Project sample of families in North Carolina and Pennsylvania to evaluate neighborhood deprivation along the urban-rural continuum.
Author(s): Alexandra Ursache, Seann Regan, Allison De Marco, Dustin T. Duncan
Citation: Geospatial Health, 16(1)
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
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Examines administrative neighborhood definitions such as census tract, block group, and school district as well as egocentric GIS neighborhood definitions in relationship to socioeconomic deprivation and their impact on childhood health and development. Utilizes the Family Life Project sample of families in North Carolina and Pennsylvania to evaluate neighborhood deprivation along the urban-rural continuum.
Author(s): Alexandra Ursache, Seann Regan, Allison De Marco, Dustin T. Duncan
Citation: Geospatial Health, 16(1)
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
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Geographic Expansion of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations: Assessing Access to Primary Care in Nonmetropolitan Counties
Presents a study on primary care access for Medicaid beneficiaries in nonmetropolitan counties who were enrolled through managed care organizations (MCOs) from 2012 to 2018. Details the level of access to primary care in the nonmetropolitan counties of 15 states and compares the rates of access for beneficiaries enrolled through MCOs established before 2012 and after 2012. Discusses findings and makes recommendations for policy makers.
Author(s): Linda Li, Matthew Najarian, Abigail R. Barker, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Presents a study on primary care access for Medicaid beneficiaries in nonmetropolitan counties who were enrolled through managed care organizations (MCOs) from 2012 to 2018. Details the level of access to primary care in the nonmetropolitan counties of 15 states and compares the rates of access for beneficiaries enrolled through MCOs established before 2012 and after 2012. Discusses findings and makes recommendations for policy makers.
Author(s): Linda Li, Matthew Najarian, Abigail R. Barker, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Pennsylvania Mental Health Services for Victims of Sexual Assault and Rape: A Staff Study
Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Traffic Safety in Appalachia: Final Report
Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Development Increased Income for Rural Pennsylvania Families, but Youth Obesity Rates Remained High
Results of a study examining whether increases in income generated by Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction led to declines in youth obesity in parts of Pennsylvania where geological conditions were better for extracting natural gas. Uses data from 317 Pennsylvania school districts and compares youth obesity rates in 2007 and 2011.
Author(s): Molly A. Martin
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Penn State Population Research Institute
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Results of a study examining whether increases in income generated by Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction led to declines in youth obesity in parts of Pennsylvania where geological conditions were better for extracting natural gas. Uses data from 317 Pennsylvania school districts and compares youth obesity rates in 2007 and 2011.
Author(s): Molly A. Martin
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Penn State Population Research Institute
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Rural Availability of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)
Study examining the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in rural areas based on county-level and hospital-level data from Pennsylvania. Describes challenges for SANE availability, including inconsistent coverage and barriers to certification, noting the potential risk of lower quality sexual assault care for rural victims.
Author(s): Elizabeth Thiede, Sheridan Miyamoto
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 81-91
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Study examining the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in rural areas based on county-level and hospital-level data from Pennsylvania. Describes challenges for SANE availability, including inconsistent coverage and barriers to certification, noting the potential risk of lower quality sexual assault care for rural victims.
Author(s): Elizabeth Thiede, Sheridan Miyamoto
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 81-91
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Pennsylvania Municipal Officials' Views on COVID-19 Vaccine and Pennsylvania's Response to the Pandemic
Results of an email survey of 1,009 elected officials, to gather information about their attitudes toward vaccines and the Pennsylvania state government's response to COVID-19. Features statistics on the percentages of officials likely to get vaccinated, who felt the state's response had been effective, and who had recently attended municipal meetings in virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of an email survey of 1,009 elected officials, to gather information about their attitudes toward vaccines and the Pennsylvania state government's response to COVID-19. Features statistics on the percentages of officials likely to get vaccinated, who felt the state's response had been effective, and who had recently attended municipal meetings in virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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