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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Exploring Access to Critical Health Services for Older Adults in Rural America from 1990 to 2020
Analyzes Area Health Resource Files to evaluate access to healthcare facilities and services between 1990 and 2020 using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Discusses healthcare access disparities between urban and rural areas and the growth of the older adult population in rural communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Bambury, Alexis A. Merdjanoff, Joshua T. Fergen, J. Tom Mueller
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e70004
Date: 02/2025
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Future Directions for Rural Population Research to Inform Extension: Listening Sessions Findings
A recorded webinar that discusses rural populations and issues important to them, such as food systems, community development, natural resources, healthcare access, disability services, and more. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): John J. Green, Katherine Curtis, Kristina Brant, Sreedhar Upendram, Paige Kelly
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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What's Going on in Greater Minnesota? – Accessing Youth Mental Health in Rural Minnesota
A recorded webinar that discusses the research report, Youth Mental Health: Where Rural Families Can Find Help Now. Focuses on mental health needs of children in Minnesota and strategies to access care.
Author(s): Marnie Werner
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Barriers to Surgical Health Care Access in Rural Communities
Discusses surgical healthcare worker shortages in rural communities and strategies to recruit and retain future surgeons. Provides information on the subspeciality in rural areas and the importance of access to surgical care.
Author(s): Kimberly Miller-Hammond, David Anderson,
Citation: The American Surgeon, 91(5)
Date: 02/2025
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Cost Burden of Cancer Screening in Kansas by Region and Rural/Urban Designation
Analyzes the cost burden of self-pay cancer screenings in Kansas by rural and urban location and geographic region of the state, with data on colonoscopies, chest computed tomography (CT) scans, and mammograms. Discusses rural-urban disparities in price of services and pricing transparency.
Author(s): Kale Mills, Nicole Freund
Citation: Kansas Journal of Medicine, 18(1):10–13
Date: 02/2025
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Self‐Reported Pesticide Application, Access to Pesticide Labels, and QR Code Use Among Agricultural H‐2A Workers, North Carolina, 2024
Results of 160 Spanish-language, in-person surveys of North Carolina agricultural H-2A visa workers, conducted in April and May 2024 regarding access to pesticide label information. Features demographics and statistics on QR code use, pesticide use, pesticide label access, and number of seasons worked in the U.S.
Author(s): Cesar Asuaje, Joseph G.L. Lee, Nowrin Nusrat, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 68(4), 388-392
Date: 02/2025
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International Medical Graduates Assistance Program: 2024 Report to the Minnesota Legislature
Examines Minnesota's International Medical Graduates Assistance Program and pathways to integrate immigrant international medical graduates (IMGs) into the healthcare system. Focuses on the role of IMGs in supporting healthcare access in rural areas of Minnesota, IMG workforce education programs and pathways, and establishing policy that allows IMGs to enter residency programs.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Rural Health Disparities and Differences in Definitions of Rurality
Examines health disparities and differences in healthcare characteristics between rural and nonrural counties using data from the 2023 County Health Rankings and 2021-2022 Area Health Resources Files. Compares community health and healthcare characteristics by two county-level urban-rural classification systems: Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) and Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Explores the degree to which four county-level classification systems - RUCC, CBSA, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties, and Urban Influence Codes (UIC) - agree regarding which counties are designated as rural.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, NORC at the University of Chicago
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RTTC - Utilizing Telementoring to Bolster the Rural Workforce
Webinar recording discussing the value of telementoring in supporting the rural workforce and addressing rural healthcare shortages. Details the role of the Rural Telementoring Training Center (RTTC) in providing resources and assistance for telementoring, and highlights program examples representing a variety of models and communities.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Suyen Schneegans, Laura Potter, Trisha Melhado
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
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Social Network Barriers to Extended-Release Naltrexone Within Rural Appalachia: Perspectives from Justice-Involved Clients and Clinicians
Presents a study on the role of family, friends, and clinicians can play in influencing naltrexone treatment uptake of people with opioid use disorder (POUD) who are incarcerated in Appalachia. Bases findings on interviews with clinicians and breaks down data by sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and social network composition, among other measures.
Author(s): Amanda M. Bunting, Carrie B. Oser, Marisa Booty, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Misuse, 60(5), 758-765
Date: 01/2025
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