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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Finding Hidden Insights in American Indian and Alaska Native Data on data.census.gov
Webinar recording discusses how to use data.census.gov to access American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) demographic data. Highlights strategies such as using specialized filter sections,overlooked data sources, and other techniques to reveal detailed data on AI/AN geographies and populations.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Using the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model to Identify Implementation Determinants of a Statewide Diabetes Learning Collaborative in Kentucky
Examines the impact of utilizing a learning collaborative to implement a diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) intervention. Utilizes interview feedback with collaborative participants to discuss issues such as organizational perspectives of DSMES, organizational and patient perspectives, and implementation and sustainability infrastructure. Discusses issues of implementing DSMES in rural areas of Kentucky.
Author(s): Aaron J. Kruse-Diehr, Borsika A. Rabin, Jessica Elliott, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 735
Date: 05/2025
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Wait Times for Medical Appointments among Adults Age 50 and Older
Reports on wait times and distance to healthcare services in rural and urban communities, utilizing data from a February 2025 survey of 1,012 adults age 50 or older. Breaks down data by level of rurality, type of facility, and type of care provided.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Author(s): Teresa A. Keenan
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Geographic and Sociodemographic Factors and Receipt of Metabolic Disease Specialty Care
Examines geographic and sociodemographic factors that impact access to specialty metabolic care in rural areas. Utilizes data from 9,546 adults with chronic health conditions in Pennsylvania and provides data on receipt of endocrinology and cardiology care according to patient demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and location of urban, large rural town, or small rural town. Includes maps showing driving distance to care centers.
Author(s): Margaret F. Zupa, Scott D. Rothenberger, Jessica G. Bauer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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Characteristics and Trends of Critical Access Hospitals That Own or Operate Ambulance Services
Explores trends in the number of Critical Access Hospital (CAH)-based ambulance services between 2017 and 2022. Analyzes Medicare Cost Report data to compare the characteristics of of CAHs that own and operate ambulance services to CAHs that do not. Presents findings from interviews with eight CAH-based ambulance services regarding the challenges of operating these services, including workforce recruitment and retention issues, the role of partnerships and community involvement, and lessons learned.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Medicaid Plays A Key Role for Maternal and Infant Health in Rural Communities
Explores the role of Medicaid in covering women of childbearing age - 19 through 44 years old - living in small towns and rural areas. Presents data from the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) on the percentage of women of childbearing age in small towns and rural areas have Medicaid coverage by state and compares the share of Medicaid coverage to similar women in metropolitan counties. Describes the percentage of women of childbearing age with Medicaid coverage as a share of non-elderly adults with Medicaid across Medicaid expansion states and non-expansion states. Highlights the 20 small towns and rural areas with the highest share of women of childbearing age covered by Medicaid.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
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School-Based Health Centers and School Attendance in Rural Areas
Examines the relationship between the availability of School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) and student absenteeism in rural areas. Analyzes 66,303 students from kindergarten to 12th grade for absenteeism in districts with a SBHC and those without a SBHC.
Author(s): Chris Kjolhede, Wendy M. Brunner, John W. Sipple
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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Arkansas's Shifting Rural-Urban Divide: Healthcare Access Issues
Provides data on shortages of primary care physicians and dentists in rural and urban areas in Arkansas, and discusses high vulnerability to closure among rural hospitals in the state.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Rural Access to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)
Examines access to, and services offered by, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in rural and urban communities. Also compares services at CCBHCs with those offered at other mental health clinics. Features state-level maps showing CCBHC counts by state, and statistics on services counts in CCBHCs and other mental health facilities, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Jeffrey Talbert
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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The Relationship Between Low Social/Emotional Support and Health Care Affordability Among Rural and Urban Residents
Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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