Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Rural Strategies That Work: Lifting up Federal Policies That Are Responsive to the Assets and Challenges of Rural America
Memorandum to the Obama-era White House Rural Council member agencies outlining strategies for the design and delivery of programs in rural America to meet the contemporary challenges of the nation and the unique challenges faced by rural communities. Discusses how policies can address the issues of geographic isolation (including travel to healthcare), limited financial resources, low population density, and poverty.
Author(s): Tom Vilsack, Shaun Donovan, Cecilia Muñoz, Jeffrey Zients
Date: 10/2016
Sponsoring organization: White House Rural Council (Obama Administration)
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Memorandum to the Obama-era White House Rural Council member agencies outlining strategies for the design and delivery of programs in rural America to meet the contemporary challenges of the nation and the unique challenges faced by rural communities. Discusses how policies can address the issues of geographic isolation (including travel to healthcare), limited financial resources, low population density, and poverty.
Author(s): Tom Vilsack, Shaun Donovan, Cecilia Muñoz, Jeffrey Zients
Date: 10/2016
Sponsoring organization: White House Rural Council (Obama Administration)
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Indian Health Service Hospitals: Longstanding Challenges Warrant Focused Attention to Support Quality Care
Study completed in response to concerns over inadequate quality of care being provided in Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals. Included in the report are findings from a series of leadership and staff interviews, questionnaires, and document reviews. Recommendations for improving quality of care are made to IHS and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Additional recommendations for improving quality through oversight measures can be found in the companion report: Indian Health Service Hospitals: More Monitoring Needed to Ensure Quality Care Addresses healthcare access difficulties, health workforce challenges, and more.
Date: 10/2016
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Study completed in response to concerns over inadequate quality of care being provided in Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals. Included in the report are findings from a series of leadership and staff interviews, questionnaires, and document reviews. Recommendations for improving quality of care are made to IHS and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Additional recommendations for improving quality through oversight measures can be found in the companion report: Indian Health Service Hospitals: More Monitoring Needed to Ensure Quality Care Addresses healthcare access difficulties, health workforce challenges, and more.
Date: 10/2016
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Geographic Accessibility of Pulmonologists for Adults with COPD
Examines county-level geographic access to pulmonologists for adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Includes statistics describing the distance in miles to a pulmonologist or primary care physician for adults living in rural areas. Figure 1 overlays locations of pulmonologists with county estimates of adults with COPD. Figure 2 overlays the locations of primary care physician locations with county estimates of adults with COPD.
Author(s): Janet B. Croft, Hua Lu, Xingyou Zhang, James B. Holt
Citation: Chest, 150(3), 544-553
Date: 09/2016
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Examines county-level geographic access to pulmonologists for adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Includes statistics describing the distance in miles to a pulmonologist or primary care physician for adults living in rural areas. Figure 1 overlays locations of pulmonologists with county estimates of adults with COPD. Figure 2 overlays the locations of primary care physician locations with county estimates of adults with COPD.
Author(s): Janet B. Croft, Hua Lu, Xingyou Zhang, James B. Holt
Citation: Chest, 150(3), 544-553
Date: 09/2016
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Oklahoma Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan 2017-2021
Provides a needs assessment and plan to address HIV prevention and care as required by the Ryan White Treatment and Modernization Act. Examines incidence for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS by demographic group and county. Discusses the HIV care continuum, along with challenges for rural access to care, and efforts to provide care.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Provides a needs assessment and plan to address HIV prevention and care as required by the Ryan White Treatment and Modernization Act. Examines incidence for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS by demographic group and county. Discusses the HIV care continuum, along with challenges for rural access to care, and efforts to provide care.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities, Rural and Frontier: Executive Summary and Report
Reviews characteristics of South Dakota's rural and frontier communities. Identifies innovative healthcare delivery and payment models and makes state and federal policy recommendations to improve rural health. Highlights the importance of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Linked map includes locations of South Dakota CAHs, Rural Health Clinics, and more.
Additional links: South Dakota Vulnerable Communities Task Force Map
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations
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Reviews characteristics of South Dakota's rural and frontier communities. Identifies innovative healthcare delivery and payment models and makes state and federal policy recommendations to improve rural health. Highlights the importance of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Linked map includes locations of South Dakota CAHs, Rural Health Clinics, and more.
Additional links: South Dakota Vulnerable Communities Task Force Map
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Minutes, Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 14-16, 2016
Provides a summary of the 80th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The main meeting discussion focused on rural-relevant social determinants of health.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides a summary of the 80th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The main meeting discussion focused on rural-relevant social determinants of health.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Opioid Addiction: Laws, Regulations, and Other Factors Can Affect Medication-Assisted Treatment Access
Examines current federal laws and regulations related to the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of opioid dependency, and discusses how these laws affect access to treatment, including in rural areas. Also explores other factors that affect access to treatment such as cost, insurance coverage, practitioner availability, and perceived value. Provides detailed descriptions about the uses and concerns of the three medications currently approved by the FDA for use in opioid MAT - methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines current federal laws and regulations related to the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of opioid dependency, and discusses how these laws affect access to treatment, including in rural areas. Also explores other factors that affect access to treatment such as cost, insurance coverage, practitioner availability, and perceived value. Provides detailed descriptions about the uses and concerns of the three medications currently approved by the FDA for use in opioid MAT - methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Aging in Rural and Frontier Oregon: Challenges Facing Rural and Frontier Home Health Agencies
Provides an overview of the services and challenges affecting home health agencies offering assistance to the aging population in rural Oregon by county. Includes discussion on healthcare access, home health agency regulation and reimbursement, recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, and physician compliance.
Author(s): Callie Walsh-Bailey, Jamie Horst
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Provides an overview of the services and challenges affecting home health agencies offering assistance to the aging population in rural Oregon by county. Includes discussion on healthcare access, home health agency regulation and reimbursement, recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, and physician compliance.
Author(s): Callie Walsh-Bailey, Jamie Horst
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Age-Associated Perceptions of Physical Activity Facilitators and Barriers Among Women in Rural Southernmost Illinois
Results of a qualitative study of 14 focus groups in a 7-county rural area, comprising 110 women divided into 4 age groups. Explores the women's narratives, including knowledge of physical activity, behavior, and access to physical activity facilities. Includes demographic information on participants.
Author(s): Kristine Zimmermann, Leslie R. Carnahan, Nadine R. Peacock
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 13
Date: 09/2016
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Results of a qualitative study of 14 focus groups in a 7-county rural area, comprising 110 women divided into 4 age groups. Explores the women's narratives, including knowledge of physical activity, behavior, and access to physical activity facilities. Includes demographic information on participants.
Author(s): Kristine Zimmermann, Leslie R. Carnahan, Nadine R. Peacock
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 13
Date: 09/2016
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Off the Rails in Rural South Carolina: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Provider Perspectives on the Long-term Health Impact of the Graniteville Train Disaster
Results of interviews with 30 healthcare providers who treated survivors of the 2005 train derailment and chlorine spill in Graniteville, South Carolina. Explores long-term psychological, physical, and social effects of technological disasters on rural communities' health and access to health services, and perspectives of healthcare providers.
Author(s): Lucy Annang Ingram, Chiwoneso Tinago, Robin Estrada, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 16(3), 3906
Date: 09/2016
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Results of interviews with 30 healthcare providers who treated survivors of the 2005 train derailment and chlorine spill in Graniteville, South Carolina. Explores long-term psychological, physical, and social effects of technological disasters on rural communities' health and access to health services, and perspectives of healthcare providers.
Author(s): Lucy Annang Ingram, Chiwoneso Tinago, Robin Estrada, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 16(3), 3906
Date: 09/2016
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