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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

America's Health Rankings Annual Report 2023
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 49 measures to describe and rank health outcomes in the U.S. and 38 additional measures used to track current and emerging health issues at state and national levels. Analyzes and presents data on disparities by geography and demographic characteristics throughout, including data on American Indian/Alaska Native populations and metropolitan status.
Additional links: Executive Brief
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Geographic Variations in Driving Time to U.S. Mental Health Care, Digital Access to Technology, & Household Crowdedness
Evaluated distance to mental health services, household crowdedness, and access to technology and broadband alongside rurality to determine barriers to mental healthcare for both rural and urban residents in 31,924 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). Discusses implications for telehealth and policy measures addressing the digital divide.
Author(s): Sophia N. D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(6)
Date: 12/2023
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Veterans With Blood Cancers: Clinical Trial Navigation and the Challenge of Rurality
Presents a study on the geographic barriers to accessing cancer trials faced by rural veterans. Explored the availability of cancer trials based on rurality and highlights clinical trial deserts. Breaks down demographic data by race, sex, cancer type, and rurality, among other measures.
Author(s): Daphne R. Friedman, Thomas D. Rodgers, Courtney Kovalick, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(1), 114-120
Date: 12/2023
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Temporal Trends in Telehealth Availability in Mental Health Treatment Settings: Differences in Growth by State Rurality, 2015–2020
Analyzes trends in telehealth availability at outpatient mental health treatment facilities by rurality and urbanicity at the state level. Utilizes 2015-2020 National Mental Health Services Survey data to evaluate growth preceding and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): George Pro, Brian Fairman, Jure Baloh, Don Willis, Broome E E Montgomery
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 100(6), 1149-1158
Date: 11/2023
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Reaching Rural Communities with HPV Vaccination Messages on a Budget
Discusses the St. Lawrence Health Initiative's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination education efforts in predominantly rural counties of northern New York. Identifies opportunities for affordable vaccination messaging in nonclinical settings such as community outreach events and schools.
Author(s): Angelina Blank
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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2023 March of Dimes Report Card: The State of Maternal and Infant Health for American Families
Provides information on U.S. and state-level maternal and infant health outcomes. Considers issues such as preterm birth, infant mortality rate, access to health care, policy efforts, social determinants of health, and more. Includes county-level grades of maternal vulnerability.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: March of Dimes
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The Role of Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinics in Enhancing Rural Access to Geriatrics Telemedicine Specialty Care
Presents a study on the barriers and facilitators for using geriatric telemedicine through community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) to provide specialty care to older rural veterans. Bases finding on interviews with clinicians and staff from 13 rural CBOCs and makes recommendations.
Author(s): Camilla B. Pimentel, Eileen M. Dryden, Kathryn A. Nearing, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 72(2), 520-528
Date: 11/2023
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The Magic of APRIL
Photovoice project from the 2023 Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) Conference. Project highlights APRIL's conference, describes Photovoice principles, and identifies themes that emerged from the Photovoice exercise in addition to the Photovoice project.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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South Dakota's Regional Services Designation Ambulance System Study
Report offering analysis of stakeholder interviews and performance data of emergency medical service (EMS) in rural South Dakota. Discusses recruitment and retention of workforce, volunteerism, training, data analysis, telehealth, access, and more. Offers recommendations based on key findings and a timeline for implementation.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Healthcare Strategists, South Dakota Department of Health
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Beyond the Waiting Room: The State of Dental Care Access in West Virginia
Discusses dental care access in West Virginia, highlighting workforce shortages and underserved populations including rural residents. Offers policy recommendations to decrease disparities including interprofessional care, reimbursement structures, and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Harmony Health Foundation, West Virginia Oral Health Coalition
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