This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Facilitators and Barriers to Adopting or Expanding Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Provision in Rural Colorado Jails: a Qualitative Analysis
Reports findings of interviews with representatives of 7 rural Colorado jails on facilitators and barriers of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) adoption and expansion. Discusses factors including attitudes toward MOUD, collaborative partnerships, physical space, distance to services, provider availability, staff, and more.
Author(s): Heidi L. McNeely, Terri L. Schreiber, William L. Swann, Claudia R. Amura
Citation: Health and Justice, 12, 26
Date: 06/2024
view details
Veterans Health Care: Opportunities Exist to Improve Assessment of Network Adequacy for Mental Health
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Networks (CCN) program and how the VA and contractors develop and maintain mental health provider networks. Describes how the VA assesses the adequacy of the CCN mental health provider networks. Examines the extent to which the VA collects information on the factors that contribute to scheduling timeliness challenges for community care appointments, including for mental health appointments. Presents data on the percentage of CCN mental health claims that were within drive-time and appointment-availability standards between April 2022 and March 2023 by CCN region, rurality, and care setting.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Voices of Experience: Lay Perspectives on Severe Maternal Morbidity in Appalachia
Highlights the perspectives of 10 rural Appalachian women interviewed about their experiences with severe maternal morbidity, social determinants of health, the healthcare system, and access to quality healthcare. Offers potential interventions based on interview themes.
Author(s): Anna Hansen, Cassidy Carter, Nancy Schoenberg, Carrie Oser
Citation: SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 5, 100410
Date: 06/2024
view details
Understanding Rural-Urban Differences in Veterans' Internet Access, Use and Patient Preferences for Telemedicine
Analyzes disparities among rural and urban veterans regarding telemedicine. Utilizes March 2022 survey data from 350 veterans about issues related to telemedicine use, including internet access, connection speeds, internet-connected devices, and use and perception of telemedicine.
Author(s): Amy M. J. O'Shea, Mikayla Gibson, James Merchant, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 438-445
Date: 06/2024
view details
Rural Emergency Hospitals
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program and the statutory requirements for facilities seeking REH designation. Outlines state laws that established REH licensure.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
view details
Effectiveness of Trained Community Lay Workers on Glycemic Control, Knowledge, and Self-Efficacy Among Agricultural Workers with Diabetes in the Texas Panhandle
Describes a 2 phase study that created a diabetes coaching program and evaluated implementation among agricultural workers with diabetes in the Texas panhandle. Evaluated patient A1C levels and diabetes knowledge to determine the effectiveness of using community health workers to improve diabetes outcomes. Discusses the importance of culturally relevant content and addressing systemic barriers to healthcare access.
Author(s): Anabel Rodriguez, Lus Chavez, Teresa Wagner, Carol Howe
Citation: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 26, 841-849
Date: 05/2024
view details
Building a Sustainable Rural Health Workforce for the 21st Century: A Report of the 2024 Rural Health Workforce Summit
Summarizes a May 2024 summit of national rural health workforce experts to discuss strategies for increasing the supply of rural health workforce. Presents 3 principles related to rural community culture, innovation, and payment structure to inform 4 core strategies for building and maintaining the workforce. Strategies cover workforce roles, partnerships and networking, technology to improve access to care, and educational pathways.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
view details
Comparison of the Characteristics of the Population Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening under 2013 and Population Newly Eligible under 2021 US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations
Compares eligibility for lung cancer screening under 2013 and 2021 recommendations issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Analyzes effects on population groups, utilizing 2017-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. See Table 3 for data on rural and urban populations.
Author(s): Nicholas Yell, Jan M. Eberth, Anthony J. Alberg, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 35, 1233-1243
Date: 05/2024
view details
Association of Uninsured Status and Rurality with Risk of Financial Toxicity after Pediatric Trauma
Analyzes the risk of financial toxicity associated with pediatric traumatic injury for rural versus urban families. Utilizes 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample patient data. Includes data on financial toxicity associated with uninsured status, rural versus urban insurance type, and rural versus urban demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics.
Author(s): Amulya Vadlakonda, Nam Yong Cho, Nikhil Chervu, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 176(2), 455-461
Date: 05/2024
view details
Findings from the Quality of and Access to Health Care Supplement of the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2019–2020
Uses interviews with 2,172 crop farmworkers and their families to report on healthcare access, utilization, and insurance by various demographic, geographic, and citizenship factors.
Author(s): Wenson Fung, Amanda Gold, Jackie Copfer, Emily Finchum-Mason, Daniel Carroll
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
view details