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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Measuring Impact of Broadband in 5 Rural MN Communities
Provides case studies exploring the impact of broadband investments in rural, Minnesota, including its uses for healthcare and economic development. Identifies the economic impact for each community.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Blandin Foundation
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Implementation and Dissemination of a Transition of Care Program for Rural Veterans: A Controlled Before and after Study
Highlights a study on the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) nurse-led transitional care program. Study uses the Practical, Robust, Implementation, and Sustainability Model (PRISM) to evaluate the implementation's ability to support the transitions of rural veterans from hospital to home.
Author(s): Chelsea Leonard, Emily Lawrence, Marina McCreight, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science, 12, 123
Date: 10/2017
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Prescription Opioid Misuse among Rural Community Pharmacy Patients: Pilot Study for Screening and Implications for Future Practice and Research
Examines rural and urban community pharmacy patients in Pennsylvania to describe and compare patterns of opioid medication misuse. Identifies demographic and risk factors associated with rural and urban opioid medication misuse. Includes demographic statistics by rural and urban areas, such as education, employment status, and misuse behaviors. Offers recommendations to address opioid medication misuse.
Author(s): Gerald T. Cochran, Rafael J. Engel, Valerie J. Hruschak, Ralph E. Tarter
Citation: Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 30(5), 498-505
Date: 10/2017
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Trends in Primary Care Provision to Medicare Beneficiaries by Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, or Physician Assistants: 2008-2014
Examines trends in elderly patients receiving primary care from physicians alone, physicians with nurse practitioners (NPs) and/or physician assistants (PAs), and NPs/PAs without physicians. Considered these models for delivering primary care to Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions and Medicare patients in rural and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
Author(s): Ying Xue, James S. Goodwin, Deepak Adhikari, Mukaila A. Raji, Yong-Fang Kuo
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 8(4), 256-263
Date: 10/2017
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Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity
Report from the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity identifying key opportunities for improving the well-being of America's rural communities and citizens. Provides recommendations to the President of the United States, focusing on five main areas: e-Connectivity, improving quality of life, supporting a rural workforce, harnessing technological innovation, and developing the rural economy.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity
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Dental Access in Rural Maryland: Innovative Approaches to Care
Details a report on dental healthcare access in Maryland. Discusses statewide strategies and highlights 5 rural community organizations working to improve access to care.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Rural Health Association
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National Disability Policy: A Progress Report
Reports on the state of disability policy in key areas, examining the intersection between disability and poverty. Focuses on education, employment, financial assistance and incentives, healthcare, long-term services and supports, transportation, and housing, as factors enhancing economic independence among people with disabilities. Includes sections on barriers related to finding transportation and appropriate housing in rural areas.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
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Opioid Use Disorders: HHS Needs Measures to Assess the Effectiveness of Efforts to Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment
Reviews U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) efforts to expand access to and the use of medication assisted treatment (MAT) for treating opioid use disorders. Includes a discussion of rural-specific programs and makes recommendations for improving future efforts and overall program evaluation.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Disparities in Preventive Dental Care Among Children in Georgia
Examines access to preventive dental care between low-income children eligible for public dental insurance compared to children with private dental insurance and/or a high family income in Georgia. Assesses the effects of policies toward increasing access to dental care for low-income children. Includes a map illustrating the percent of children with financial access to preventive dental care for each county.
Author(s): Shanshan Cao, Monica Gentili, Paul M. Griffin, Susan O. Griffin, Nicoleta Serban
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14
Date: 10/2017
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Maryland Food Charter: A Roadmap to a Healthy and Sustainable Food System
Details the values, goals, and recommendations of food system stakeholders throughout Maryland and encourages coordination and collaboration for a healthy, equitable, economically and environmentally sustainable food system. Includes recommendations for the five major food system sectors: production and processing, distribution, access, consumption, and recovery.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: The Institute for Public Health Innovation
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