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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Geographic Access to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants in Pennsylvania
Study exploring access to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants in rural and urban counties in Pennsylvania. Compiles county-level data that represents breastfeeding rates, geographic access to certified lactation consultants, and demographic characteristics. Compares proportions of urban and rural young children who have ready access, presenting that information in relation to nationwide disparities in breastfeeding support.
Author(s): Kristin N. Ray, Jill R. Demirci, Lori Uscher-Pines, Debra L. Bogen
Citation: Journal of Human Lactation, 35(1), 90-99
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
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A Geospatial Analysis of the Impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on Breastfeeding Initiation in North Carolina
Evaluates the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative's impacts on breastfeeding support and practice in North Carolina. Performs a geographic analysis of data from birth certificates between 2011–2014, including births at a participant hospital, county of residence, and whether mothers live in the same county as a Baby-Friendly hospital. Discusses disparities in breastfeeding support in North Carolina, offering county-level maps that illustrate the accessibility of Baby-Friendly hospitals.
Author(s): Abigail Liberty, Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Human Lactation, 35(1), 114-126
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
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Una Mano Amiga: Pilot Test of a Patient Navigator Program for Southwest New Mexico
Reports on a pilot study of utilizing bilingual promotoras as patient navigators to help cancer patients and their families in 3 rural counties of southwest New Mexico navigate the healthcare system from cancer diagnosis to treatment.
Author(s): Hugo Vilchis, Lynn E. Onstad, Rachel Benavidez, et al.
Citation: Journal of Cancer Education, 34(1), 173-179
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
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The Evidence on School-Based Health Centers: A Review
Reviews the literature on the impact of school-based health centers (SBHCs). Discusses the purpose and structure of SBHCs, their financial benefits, physical and mental health outcomes, their impact on education, and future directions. Briefly addresses their use in rural and tribal communities.
Author(s): Michael Arenson, Philip J. Hudson, NaeHyung Lee, Betty Lai
Citation: Global Pediatric Health, 6, 2333794X19828745
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
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Behavioral Health: Research on Health Care Costs of Untreated Conditions is Limited
Report discusses the lack of sufficient research on the total cost healthcare when behavioral health services are inaccessible. Discusses some of the challenges to providing behavioral health access in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Fact Sheet: Telehealth
Discusses the growth of telehealth use in hospitals from 2010 through 2017, and ongoing challenges to expanding and providing telehealth services. Covers rural considerations throughout the document.
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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HRSA Maternal Mortality Summit: Promising Global Practices to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes Technical Report
Compiles key findings from a three-day summit, Promising Global Practices to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes, that includes reports, presentations, discussion, and other resources to improve maternal health outcomes from experts in the field. Provides an overview of maternal health, morbidity, and mortality in the United States. Covers the limited access to obstetric healthcare services women living in rural areas face.
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Report to Congress: Current State of Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning and Capacity Building Models
Reports on the impact of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models as required by the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act. Examines how such models are being used to improve healthcare quality and address health workforce capacity, particularly in rural areas, the evidence behind model effectiveness, and evidence gaps. Provides recommendations on expanding model adoption and its use in continuing medical education. Appendix includes an inventory of Project ECHO models and other similar models by state and in several other countries.
Additional links: Appendix F: Evaluation of Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning and Capacity Building Models
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Fact Sheet: Rural Nebraska's Shifting Long-term Care System
Highlights the state of Nebraska's rural long-term care system. Addresses access, capacity, provider shortages, and reimbursements.
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Evidence Brief: Video Telehealth for Primary Care and Mental Health Service
Details an investigation by the Veterans Health Administration into video telehealth as a means of delivering primary and mental healthcare to veterans. Highlights advantages for increasing access for rural veterans.
Additional links: Supplemental Materials
Author(s): Stephanie Veazie, Donald Bourne, Kim Peterson, Johanna Anderson
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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