Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

The Association of Broadband Internet Access and Telemedicine Utilization in Rural Western Tennessee: An Observational Study
Results of a study to determine whether broadband internet availability was associated with telemedicine adoption among a rural patient population in western Tennessee. Features statistics including race, sex, insurance type, broadband access, and location with breakdowns by nonrural, partially rural, or rural areas.
Author(s): Jacob K. Quinton, Michael K. Ong, Sitaram Vangala, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 21, 765
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
Rural Poverty Has Distinct Regional and Racial Patterns
Describes the findings of a study of persistent poverty, examining the prevalence of poverty in Appalachia, the Black Belt, the Mississippi Delta, the U.S.-Mexico border, and on Native American lands. Discusses the impacts of persistent poverty on access to healthcare, food access, social programs, and other support services.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Not Your Mother's Healthcare: Surveying Consumer Experiences with Telehealth Services
Recording of an August 4, 2021, webinar on telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents results of a survey conducted between June 28-July 18, 2021, on telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, and obstacles to accessing telehealth services. Includes data on rural and urban differences throughout. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Factors Associated With Use of and Satisfaction With Telehealth by Adults in Rural Virginia During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the use of and satisfaction with telehealth services since March 2020 among 253 survey participants from rural Virginia, and explores the association between demographic and health characteristics, health literacy, internet access, and the odds of using telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns including race or ethnicity, sex, rural or urban location, insurance status, and broadband access.
Author(s): Maria D. Thomson, Abigail C. Mariani, April R. Williams, Arnethea L. Sutton, Vanessa B. Sheppard
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(8)
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
The Rural Emergency Hospital and Value-Based Care
Summarizes the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) legislation, outlines local considerations before REH conversion, and prepares stakeholders to comment when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases REH proposed rules for public input. Addresses questions regarding anticipated proposed rules and describes opportunities to inform REH rulemaking.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
Telebehavioral Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis of Provider Experiences and Perspectives
Examines behavioral health provider perspectives on use of telebehavioral health before and during the pandemic, based on interviews with 31 behavioral health providers in Michigan. Describes how policy changes affected access to and use of behavioral health services, especially among rural residents. Includes statistics on provider characteristics, with breakdowns by urban or rural primary practice location.
Author(s): Victoria Schoebel, Caitlyn Wayment, Maria Gaiser, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 27(8), 947-954
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
Examining Child Food Insecurity in Rural America
Discusses challenges and barriers related to child food security in rural areas, with a focus on the impact of COVID-19, data exhibiting child food needs, and policy that can help close food access gaps.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
view details
The Association Between Breast Cancer Capacity and Resources with Incidence and Mortality in Arizona's Low Populous Counties
Study examining breast cancer service capacity and incidence and mortality rates for low populous counties in Arizona based on CMS National Provider Identifier data. Compares rural and urban data and discusses opportunities for increasing access to preventative services.
Author(s): Adrienne B. Lent, Prashanthinie Mohan, Daniel Derksen, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21, 6357
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
view details
Innovations in Overdose Response: Strategies Implemented by Emergency Medical Services Providers
Reports on the findings of an environmental scan conducted in collaboration with the National Association of EMS Officials looking for new and promising overdose response strategies for state and local EMS providers to increase access to treatment and recovery services. Discusses sharing data for public health surveillance and response, building system-wide partnerships, administering buprenorphine, developing post-overdose response teams, utilizing mobile integrated health clinics, and implementation barriers to be considered.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
view details
Leveraging Evidence-Based Policies to Improve Health, Control Costs, and Create Health Equity
Explores health inequities and healthcare access in marginalized populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups, sexual and gender minorities, people living in poverty and in rural communities, and people formerly incarcerated. Discusses strategies and policies to reduce inequities focused on access to healthcare, economic mobility, affordable housing, safe learning environments for young adults and children, and health-promoting excise taxes.
Author(s): Adam Lustig, Marilyn Cabrera
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
view details