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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

A Century Later: Rural Public Health's Enduring Challenges and Opportunities
Discusses rural health disparities that have persisted over the past century, with information on infectious disease, access to healthcare, maternal and child health, and racial health disparities in the United States. Discusses public health challenges and solutions for rural communities.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Carly Milkowski
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, e1-e9
Date: 09/2020
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Delay or Avoidance of Medical Care Because of COVID-19-Related Concerns — United States, June 2020
Results of a web-based survey administered from June 24-30, 2020, exploring delays in routine or emergency medical care, due to closure of facilities or fear of exposure to COVID-19. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Mark E. Czeisler, Kristy Marynak, Kristie E.N. Clarke, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(36), 1250-1257
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Telepharmacy and Quality of Medication Use in Rural Areas, 2013–2019
Uses dispensing records from traditional pharmacies and telepharmacies in the Midwest to compare patients' adherence to and inappropriate use of prescription medications between 2013 and 2019. Includes data and statistics on medication adherence and use, with information broken down by patient characteristics, such as age, rurality, payer, risk, and more.
Author(s): Shweta Pathak, Mitchell Haynes, Dima Qato, Benjamin Urick
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 09/2020
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How Independent Primary Care Clinicians Leverage Trust to Help Vulnerable Populations
Examines how primary care clinics are meeting the needs of low-income, rural, and underserved patients. Features profiles of two New England facilities, including an independent clinic in rural Vermont.
Author(s): Martha Hostetter, Sarah Klein
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Rural Action Plan
Provides an overview of the rural health care and human services landscape. Outlines a Four-Point strategy to build a sustainable health and human services model for rural communities, leverage technology and innovation, focus on preventing disease and mortality, and increase rural access to care. Identifies opportunities to transform rural health and human services through federal government partnership and describes new policies and programs to implement the Four-Point Strategy. Highlights actions already taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support rural communities.
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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The Intergenerational Cycles of Rural Health
Discusses challenges facing rural communities, including poverty, low educational attainment, poor health behaviors, and insufficient healthcare access. Explains how these factors influence one another and persist from generation to generation.
Author(s): Randy Wykoff
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1279-1280
Date: 09/2020
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Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030
Describes how efforts, resources, and interests can be combined to strengthen the capacity in Pennsylvania to prevent oral disease and help people achieve a lifetime of good oral health and general health. Includes a section on underserved populations, and mentions rural throughout.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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Access to Healthcare in Rural Indiana
Provides an overview of healthcare access issues in rural Indiana and potential mitigating strategies. Includes a county-level map of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Author(s): Katherine J. Pope
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Center for Rural Engagement
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2019 Wisconsin Behavioral Health System Gaps Report
Outlines the results of a study examining gaps and needs for behavioral healthcare services for persons with mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) in Wisconsin. Includes information and data on the needs of behavioral health services in rural areas throughout.
Additional links: Technical Appendices
Author(s): Abra Vigna, Tim Connor
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
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A Volunteer Program in Maine to Transport Community Members to Health Care Appointments
Highlights a non-emergency volunteer transportation program in rural Maine. Outlines the goals and structure of the program and provides data about the number of trips and miles covered by year over the course of the program's existence.
Author(s): Sarah Levin Martin, James Wood, Steven Soule
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 08/2020
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