Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Rural Perspectives on Digital Health in Cardiovascular Care: Qualitative Study of Interviews With Rural and Rural-Serving Primary Care Providers and Cardiologists
Explores the perspectives of 17 rural and rural-serving healthcare providers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington, on the use of digital health to deliver rural cardiovascular care. Discusses five factors that influence adoption outlined by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Identifies themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews with these providers, including advantages and disadvantages of using digital health in their practice.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, Susan Miller, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e77234
Date: 11/2025
view details
Explores the perspectives of 17 rural and rural-serving healthcare providers in Alaska, Idaho, and Washington, on the use of digital health to deliver rural cardiovascular care. Discusses five factors that influence adoption outlined by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Identifies themes that emerged from semi-structured interviews with these providers, including advantages and disadvantages of using digital health in their practice.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, Susan Miller, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e77234
Date: 11/2025
view details
County-Level Vulnerability Is Associated With Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Among Rural Suicide Decedents: A National Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Study
Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
view details
Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
view details
Communities That Care: The Power of Giving with Sanford Health
A conversation with Sanford Health's president and CE0, Bill Gassen, and chief philanthropy officer, Deb Koski, about philanthropy to support healthcare access in rural Midwestern communities. Focuses on community engagement and collaboration.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Bill Gassen, Sue Ellen Wagner, Deb Koski
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
A conversation with Sanford Health's president and CE0, Bill Gassen, and chief philanthropy officer, Deb Koski, about philanthropy to support healthcare access in rural Midwestern communities. Focuses on community engagement and collaboration.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Bill Gassen, Sue Ellen Wagner, Deb Koski
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Missed Opportunities for Tobacco Dependence Treatment among U.S. Veterans Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: An Observational Cohort Study
Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
view details
Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
view details
Positive Outliers: How Some Rural Communities Maintain Access to Labor and Delivery Services
Explores healthcare providers' approaches to ensuring maternal care access in rural Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Mississippi. Provides case studies on the role of rural hospitals and clinics in providing labor and delivery services, discusses financial and logistical challenges faced by providers, and details funding, policy, and service delivery strategies supporting continued access.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Molly Castle Work
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Bassett Research Institute, Commonwealth Fund
view details
Explores healthcare providers' approaches to ensuring maternal care access in rural Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Mississippi. Provides case studies on the role of rural hospitals and clinics in providing labor and delivery services, discusses financial and logistical challenges faced by providers, and details funding, policy, and service delivery strategies supporting continued access.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Molly Castle Work
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Bassett Research Institute, Commonwealth Fund
view details
Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have Access to About Half of the Physicians Available to Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Explores how provider networks vary across Medicare Advantage plans and when compared to traditional Medicare. Examines the share of physicians available to Medicare Advantage enrollees as a share of physicians available to traditional Medicare beneficiaries by analyzing Medicare Advantage provider directories for 2022. Includes information on the availability of physicians to Medicare Advantage enrollees and traditional Medicare beneficiaries in rural counties.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Tricia Neuman, Karen Pollitz
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Explores how provider networks vary across Medicare Advantage plans and when compared to traditional Medicare. Examines the share of physicians available to Medicare Advantage enrollees as a share of physicians available to traditional Medicare beneficiaries by analyzing Medicare Advantage provider directories for 2022. Includes information on the availability of physicians to Medicare Advantage enrollees and traditional Medicare beneficiaries in rural counties.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Tricia Neuman, Karen Pollitz
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
2010-2023 County-Level Hospital-Based Obstetric Care Status
County-level dataset containing the county Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, county, state, and indicator of whether each county had hospital-based obstetrics care in years 2010-2023. Available for download as an XLS file.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Emily C. Sheffield, Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
County-level dataset containing the county Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, county, state, and indicator of whether each county had hospital-based obstetrics care in years 2010-2023. Available for download as an XLS file.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Emily C. Sheffield, Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
An Enhanced Method for Identifying Hospital-Based Obstetric Unit Status, Version 2 with Addendum
Results of a study using data from American Hospital Association annual surveys from 2010-2018 to conduct single- and multi-year assessments of obstetric unit status and to identify closures of obstetric units. Compares results obtained through the enhanced method with results of a survey sample of rural hospitals with obstetric units open at the time of the assessment and those with recently closed units. Addendum describes methodology updates since a previously published January 2022 report as well as additional findings using 2010-2023 data.
Additional links: An Enhanced Method for Identifying Hospital-Based Obstetric Unit Status (Version 1, 2022)
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Results of a study using data from American Hospital Association annual surveys from 2010-2018 to conduct single- and multi-year assessments of obstetric unit status and to identify closures of obstetric units. Compares results obtained through the enhanced method with results of a survey sample of rural hospitals with obstetric units open at the time of the assessment and those with recently closed units. Addendum describes methodology updates since a previously published January 2022 report as well as additional findings using 2010-2023 data.
Additional links: An Enhanced Method for Identifying Hospital-Based Obstetric Unit Status (Version 1, 2022)
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Rural Health Transformation Program: Themes Emerging From Stakeholder Input
Describes themes from the stakeholder engagement efforts of five states - Alaska, California, Georgia, North Dakota, and Washington - regarding the Rural Health Transformation Program and application. Discusses modernizing care delivery, leveraging data and technology, investing in workforce development, financial stability and long-term sustainability, and prioritizing population health.
Author(s): Rebecca Lopez, Heather Howard, Jamila McLean
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: State Health & Value Strategies
view details
Describes themes from the stakeholder engagement efforts of five states - Alaska, California, Georgia, North Dakota, and Washington - regarding the Rural Health Transformation Program and application. Discusses modernizing care delivery, leveraging data and technology, investing in workforce development, financial stability and long-term sustainability, and prioritizing population health.
Author(s): Rebecca Lopez, Heather Howard, Jamila McLean
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: State Health & Value Strategies
view details
Greater Physician Supply Associated with Lower Mortality in Rural Counties: A 23-Year County-Level Longitudinal Observational Study
Examines the relationship between increasing the primary care physician supply in rural areas and corresponding mortality rates. Provides data from a study conducted between 1992-2014 and analyzes rural versus urban trends in mortality rates and physician supply. Discusses rural healthcare practitioner workforce needs, rural versus urban healthcare disparities, and access to care.
Author(s): Nasim B. Ferdows, Cyrus Kosar, Orestis Panagiotou, Momotazur Rahman
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 10/2025
view details
Examines the relationship between increasing the primary care physician supply in rural areas and corresponding mortality rates. Provides data from a study conducted between 1992-2014 and analyzes rural versus urban trends in mortality rates and physician supply. Discusses rural healthcare practitioner workforce needs, rural versus urban healthcare disparities, and access to care.
Author(s): Nasim B. Ferdows, Cyrus Kosar, Orestis Panagiotou, Momotazur Rahman
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 10/2025
view details