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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Maternal Mortality in Indiana: Contributing Factors and Policy Recommendations
Discusses causes of maternal mortality and related data in Indiana and the U.S. at large. Includes information on disparities with a focus on rural areas, demographics, and access to maternal health services. Provides county-level map of Indiana showing full, moderate, low, or no access to maternity care. Explores potential solutions to maternal mortality, such as co-location of maternal and behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder (SUD) support, mental health support, and more.
Author(s): Tierra Brooks, Lee Ruess, Kristi Schultz, Elizabeth Thuranira
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana University Public Policy Institute
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Georgia State of the State: Maternal Health Report
Summarizes data and evidence regarding maternal health indicators in Georgia. Offers recommendations for further improving the health of mothers and babies. Includes statistics related to fetal, infant, and maternal health in Georgia with breakdowns by demographics and rural or nonrural locations.
Author(s): Fowzio Jama, Whitney Williams, Yuzhe Liu, et al.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia
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Telehealth for the Study of Palliative Care Communication: Opportunities, Methodological Challenges, and Recommendations
Examines telehealth in connection to palliative care communication. Utilizes 3 ongoing studies involving patients with serious illnesses who have received palliative care through telehealth to reflect on opportunities and challenges in utilizing telehealth for palliative care. Provides examples from rural Vermont.
Author(s): Elise C. Tarbi, Susanna L. Schuler, Natalie Ambrose, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 24, 55
Date: 03/2025
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Vulnerability Index Approach to Identify Pharmacy Deserts and Keystone Pharmacies
Discusses the importance of improving pharmacy access in rural and low-income areas. Utilizes data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) dataQ to examine travel time to nearest pharmacy according to urbanicity. Defines a pharmacy vulnerability index according to this measure and reports on residents in the the contiguous U.S. living in or at risk of living in a pharmacy desert, with comparisons for small rural, large rural, suburban, and urban.
Author(s): Walter S. Mathis, Lucas A. Berenbrok, Peter A. Kahn, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Non-Health Care Costs Associated with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Visitation
Summarizes household expenses associated with neonatal intensive care unit visitation including transportation, lost wages, lodging, childcare, and more. Includes metropolitan and non-metropolitan comparisons in Appendix Table 2.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Gourevitch, Evan Ellicott, Christina Kim, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 3(3)
Date: 03/2025
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Exercising Self-Governance Through an Indian Managed Care Entity: The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Option
Profiles the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA), a health system serving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Discusses the design and impact of their Medicaid managed care entity.
Author(s): Anne Smithey, Rob Houston
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Millions in US Live in Places Where Doctors Don't Practice and Telehealth Doesn't Reach
Discusses U.S. regions that experience healthcare workforce shortages and lack access to telehealth. Includes interactive county-level map showing behavioral healthcare deserts, primary care deserts, broadband deserts, dead zones, life expectancy, household income, and percentage of rural residents. Provides comparisons of chronic disease for those with and without digital access and showcases county-level dead zones in Alabama.
Author(s): Sarah Jane Tribble, Holly K. Hacker Data, Lydia Zuraw
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Improving HPV Vaccine Coverage in Tennessee: Addressing Barriers and Expanding Access for Mid-Adults
Examines barriers to achieving optimal human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake in the rural South. Analyzes HPV vaccination rates in Tennessee according to insurance status and rural versus urban location. Discusses cancer prevention and interventions to improve education, awareness, access, and vaccination uptake among rural and uninsured populations.
Author(s): Donald J. Alcendor, Patricia Matthews-Juarez, Mohammad Tabatabai, et al.
Citation: Pathogens, 14(4), 311
Date: 03/2025
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Partnering to Improve Care for People Experiencing Homelessness Profile Series - Engaging the Community to Support People Experiencing Homelessness: Lessons from California's Tuolumne County
Discusses strategies to address homelessness and healthcare access in rural Tuolumne county in Northern California. Utilizes community needs assessment surveys to examine how to better meet healthcare and housing needs of residents through collaboration.
Author(s): Zackiya Grant-Knight, Jahira Sterling
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Building Trust Through Integrated Outreach and Mobile Clinics for People Experiencing Homelessness: Tips for Providers
Discusses the process of utilizing a mobile health clinic approach to provide services to people experiencing homelessness in rural Tuolumne county in Northern California. Discusses issues related to mobile clinics, such as understanding client, staff, and care team benefits of a mobile health model as well as strategies for outreach.
Author(s): Katie League
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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