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
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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
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Rural-Urban Trends in Pediatric Emergency Department Visits for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions from 2016-2019
Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Examines trends in pediatric emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, asthma, and diabetes, and discusses the role of primary care access in reducing ACSC-related hospitalizations. Provides data breakdowns by level of rurality and year, race and ethnicity, and health condition using 2016-2019 State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) data.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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A Chartbook on the Characteristics and Needs of Frontier Critical Access Hospitals
Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Post-Hospital Access to Preferred and High-Quality Skilled Nursing Facilities for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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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
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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
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Assessing Access to Cardiologists and Endocrinologists in the Texas ACA Market
Uses secret shopper surveys to assess patient access to cardiologists and endocrinologists in the Texas Affordable Care Act marketplace. Includes breakdown of data by rurality of both patient and provider. Discusses appointment wait times and distance to care for rural patients.
Author(s): Simon F. Haeder, Yuqin Lou, Wendy Xu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 03/2026
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Uses secret shopper surveys to assess patient access to cardiologists and endocrinologists in the Texas Affordable Care Act marketplace. Includes breakdown of data by rurality of both patient and provider. Discusses appointment wait times and distance to care for rural patients.
Author(s): Simon F. Haeder, Yuqin Lou, Wendy Xu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 03/2026
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Increasing Access to Oral Health Care in Rural Communities
Describes strategies states are implementing to meet the oral health needs of their rural communities. Covers initiatives related to telehealth, expanding the dental workforce, medical-dental integration, as well as initiatives proposed as part of state Rural Health Transformation Program applications.
Author(s): Megan D'Alessandro, Katie Greene
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Describes strategies states are implementing to meet the oral health needs of their rural communities. Covers initiatives related to telehealth, expanding the dental workforce, medical-dental integration, as well as initiatives proposed as part of state Rural Health Transformation Program applications.
Author(s): Megan D'Alessandro, Katie Greene
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Profiles of Non-Medical Drivers and Health Burden Associated With Care Seeking Among Rural Women
Examines social, demographic, and geographic determinants of health impacting women's health in 29 rural Texas counties. Analyzes survey data from 159 participants and provides data on health burden, health-related social needs, and geographic access to care.
Author(s): Elizabeth Ekren, Saksham Adhikari, Shadi Maleki, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 03/2026
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Examines social, demographic, and geographic determinants of health impacting women's health in 29 rural Texas counties. Analyzes survey data from 159 participants and provides data on health burden, health-related social needs, and geographic access to care.
Author(s): Elizabeth Ekren, Saksham Adhikari, Shadi Maleki, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 03/2026
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Understanding Upcoming Deadlines of New Section 504 Requirements
Recording of a March 30, 2026, webinar reviewing updates to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, titled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance," that take effect for Medicare and Medicaid providers, including Rural Health Clinics, in summer 2026. Describes new requirements for the accessibility of medical treatment, kiosks, web content, mobile applications, medical equipment and facilities, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a March 30, 2026, webinar reviewing updates to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, titled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance," that take effect for Medicare and Medicaid providers, including Rural Health Clinics, in summer 2026. Describes new requirements for the accessibility of medical treatment, kiosks, web content, mobile applications, medical equipment and facilities, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Expanding Access to Low-Barrier Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in Non-Traditional Settings: Washington's Opioid Treatment Network
Presents a study exploring use of opioid treatment networks to provide low-barrier access to medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Washington State. Compares rates of buprenorohine utilization of individuals within and outside of the network and by rural-urban residence.
Author(s): Shay M. Daily, Sharon Reif, Elizabeth Speaker, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70139
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study exploring use of opioid treatment networks to provide low-barrier access to medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Washington State. Compares rates of buprenorohine utilization of individuals within and outside of the network and by rural-urban residence.
Author(s): Shay M. Daily, Sharon Reif, Elizabeth Speaker, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70139
Date: 03/2026
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