Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
The Golden Hour Is Elusive in Rural Trauma: A 10-year Analysis from a Level I Trauma Center in Montana
Analyzed 4,213 trauma patients between 2012 and 2022 at a Level 1 trauma facility in Montana to determine whether trauma transfer patterns and rurality impacted outcomes. Discusses the goal of offering definitive care within 1 hour of injury and the impact of workforce shortages in rural areas.
Author(s): Jung G. Min, Maggie Smith, Michael S. Englehart, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 103, 127-131
Date: 05/2026
view details
Analyzed 4,213 trauma patients between 2012 and 2022 at a Level 1 trauma facility in Montana to determine whether trauma transfer patterns and rurality impacted outcomes. Discusses the goal of offering definitive care within 1 hour of injury and the impact of workforce shortages in rural areas.
Author(s): Jung G. Min, Maggie Smith, Michael S. Englehart, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 103, 127-131
Date: 05/2026
view details
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Acute Stroke Capabilities in California: Association with Rurality and Telestroke Access
Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
view details
Examines disparities in presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with or without acute stroke capability among patients with acute stroke by race and ethnicity, and variations in these associations by patient rurality and ED telestroke status, using 2021 NEDI-California and NEDI-USA survey data.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Renee Y. Hsia, Krislyn M. Boggs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(4), 108607
Date: 04/2026
view details
Bridging the Gap: A Scoping Review of Family Caregiver Roles in Rural Health Settings
Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
view details
Presents a literature review exploring how unpaid caregivers contribute to rural healthcare systems by filling gaps in the rural healthcare infrastructure. Highlights the various roles that unpaid caregivers play in the provision of healthcare, such as providing transportation, translating for family members, and telehealth mediation, among other activities.
Author(s): Stephanie Quon, Isabel Truong, Leah Moroz, Katherine Zheng
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1), 10621
Date: 03/2026
view details
Rural Health Transformation Program: State Focus on Maternal and Child Health
Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details
Describes maternal and child healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers access to maternity care, the maternal health workforce, community-based behavioral health programs, technology-enabled strategies for maternal health, and more.
Author(s): Anoosha Hasan, Elliot Hill, Zack Gould
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details
Geographic, Racial, and Sex Disparities in Time to Treatment for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Research letter analyzes how timely treatment initiation differs among adults with early-onset colorectal cancer by four levels of rurality, sex, and race/ethnicity, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes, Kenneth J. Vega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e261980
Date: 03/2026
view details
Research letter analyzes how timely treatment initiation differs among adults with early-onset colorectal cancer by four levels of rurality, sex, and race/ethnicity, using 2006-2020 SEER Program data.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes, Kenneth J. Vega
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3), e261980
Date: 03/2026
view details
Examining Rural Population Characteristics and Access to Care in 2022: A Study of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)
Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
view details
Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
view details
Advancing Technology Innovation through the Rural Health Transformation Program
Identifies common themes across Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plans related to proposed health technology initiatives. Covers the information technology infrastructure, telehealth and remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence, and catalyst funds and pilot programs.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Identifies common themes across Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plans related to proposed health technology initiatives. Covers the information technology infrastructure, telehealth and remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence, and catalyst funds and pilot programs.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
An Examination of All-Payer Inpatient Rural Hospital Bypass
Examines the extent to which rural patients bypassed their nearest rural hospital for inpatient care in eight states. Analyzes data on inpatient hospital admissions for rural residents of these states using the 2018 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID). Identifies factors associated with hospital-level bypass rates by patient and hospital characteristics.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Shena Popat, Alana Knudson, Marilyn G. Klug
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
view details
Examines the extent to which rural patients bypassed their nearest rural hospital for inpatient care in eight states. Analyzes data on inpatient hospital admissions for rural residents of these states using the 2018 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID). Identifies factors associated with hospital-level bypass rates by patient and hospital characteristics.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Shena Popat, Alana Knudson, Marilyn G. Klug
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
view details
Rural Specialty Care for Veterans with the Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions: Fibromyalgia, Migraine, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
view details
Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
view details
Rural Health Transformation Program: State Focus on Primary Care
Describes primary care initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers payment and delivery systems, the primary care workforce, community partners, technology upgrades to reduce barriers to care, and infrastructure and seed funding.
Author(s): Maddy Hraber, Katie Green
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details
Describes primary care initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers payment and delivery systems, the primary care workforce, community partners, technology upgrades to reduce barriers to care, and infrastructure and seed funding.
Author(s): Maddy Hraber, Katie Green
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details