Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model: Second Annual Evaluation Report
Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, transplantation, acute care hospitalizations, outpatient ED visits, and hospital readmissions. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the ETC Model during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Includes facility-level statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Author(s): Brighita Negrusa, Jennifer Wiens, Darin Ullman, et al.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, transplantation, acute care hospitalizations, outpatient ED visits, and hospital readmissions. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the ETC Model during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Includes facility-level statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Author(s): Brighita Negrusa, Jennifer Wiens, Darin Ullman, et al.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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VA Health Care: Office of Rural Health Efforts and Recommendations for Improvement
Presents an evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health (ORH). Discusses the methods the ORH uses to improve healthcare quality and access for rural veterans, such as initiatives to expand VHA services to rural veterans and funding research to improve the healthcare quality in rural areas. Evaluates the ORH's efforts and makes recommendations for improvement.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Presents an evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health (ORH). Discusses the methods the ORH uses to improve healthcare quality and access for rural veterans, such as initiatives to expand VHA services to rural veterans and funding research to improve the healthcare quality in rural areas. Evaluates the ORH's efforts and makes recommendations for improvement.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Community-Acquired Staphylococcus Aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infection Risk Assessment Using Hotspot Analysis and Risk Maps: The Case of California Emergency Departments
Using California emergency department data between 2016 and 2019, evaluates the association between risk for Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections with various neighborhood characteristics such as population, poverty, and healthcare access shortage measures. Discusses rural disparities.
Author(s): Brittany L. Morgan Bustamante, Laura Fejerman, Larissa May, Beatriz Martínez-Lopéz
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 123
Date: 01/2024
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Using California emergency department data between 2016 and 2019, evaluates the association between risk for Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections with various neighborhood characteristics such as population, poverty, and healthcare access shortage measures. Discusses rural disparities.
Author(s): Brittany L. Morgan Bustamante, Laura Fejerman, Larissa May, Beatriz Martínez-Lopéz
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 123
Date: 01/2024
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Telehealth Expansion, Internet Speed, and Primary Care Access Before and During COVID-19
Analyzes changes in primary care telehealth access among 172,387 Wisconsin Medicaid beneficiaries before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Assesses change in access over time by demographic characteristics, rural-urban dwelling, access to high speed internet, and health status.
Author(s): Alyssa Shell Tilhou, Arjun Jain, Thomas DeLeire
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(1), e2347686
Date: 01/2024
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Analyzes changes in primary care telehealth access among 172,387 Wisconsin Medicaid beneficiaries before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Assesses change in access over time by demographic characteristics, rural-urban dwelling, access to high speed internet, and health status.
Author(s): Alyssa Shell Tilhou, Arjun Jain, Thomas DeLeire
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(1), e2347686
Date: 01/2024
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County-Level Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates on Colorectal Cancer Survival in the State of Georgia: Does County-Level Rurality Matter?
Evaluates 5-year colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in Georgia by county-level rurality and CRC screening rate, utilizing 2004-2010 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data. Discusses rural-urban CRC mortality disparities, and describes the influence of CRC screening on mortality.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 13(1)
Date: 01/2024
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Evaluates 5-year colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in Georgia by county-level rurality and CRC screening rate, utilizing 2004-2010 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data. Discusses rural-urban CRC mortality disparities, and describes the influence of CRC screening on mortality.
Author(s): Meng-Han Tsai, Steven S. Coughlin, Jorge Cortes
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 13(1)
Date: 01/2024
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Implementation of a Mobile Health Clinic Framework for Hepatitis C Virus Screening and Treatment: A Descriptive Study
Examines the effectiveness of utilizing mobile health clinics (MHC) for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment in underserved areas. Analyzes HCV screening and treatment rates of an MHC program initiated by Clemson Rural Health in South Carolina and discusses the impact of MHCs to provide healthcare access in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Lior Rennert, Kerry A. Howard, Caitlin M. Kickham, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 29
Date: 01/2024
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Examines the effectiveness of utilizing mobile health clinics (MHC) for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment in underserved areas. Analyzes HCV screening and treatment rates of an MHC program initiated by Clemson Rural Health in South Carolina and discusses the impact of MHCs to provide healthcare access in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Lior Rennert, Kerry A. Howard, Caitlin M. Kickham, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 29
Date: 01/2024
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Status Report of the Alabama Primary Care Physician Workforce, 2024
Discusses distribution of Alabama's primary care physicians (PCPs) and their availability to state residents. Features county-level maps showing 78 Alabama cities and towns and the practice locations of PCPs, Alabama towns and cities with shortages of PCPs and those with an adequate number or a surplus of PCPs as of 2024, and statistics on physician need in Alabama population centers as of 2025, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Heather Crow, William H. Coleman, Kyle Siegrist, Caleb Lenox
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Office of Healthcare Workforce
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Discusses distribution of Alabama's primary care physicians (PCPs) and their availability to state residents. Features county-level maps showing 78 Alabama cities and towns and the practice locations of PCPs, Alabama towns and cities with shortages of PCPs and those with an adequate number or a surplus of PCPs as of 2024, and statistics on physician need in Alabama population centers as of 2025, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Heather Crow, William H. Coleman, Kyle Siegrist, Caleb Lenox
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Office of Healthcare Workforce
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Montana HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis Epidemiological Profile, 2023
Presents data for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and viral hepatitis in Montana, and describes the demographics of Montana in context of each disease. Mentions rural throughout and includes and a county-level map with shadings showing 3 levels of population density.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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Presents data for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and viral hepatitis in Montana, and describes the demographics of Montana in context of each disease. Mentions rural throughout and includes and a county-level map with shadings showing 3 levels of population density.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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Arkansas State Health Improvement Plan 2024-2029
Offers data on Arkansas health in 5 priority areas: access to care, addiction and mental health, infectious disease and vaccinations, maternal mortality, and obesity. Discusses trends over time and identifies action steps to improve health indicators. Includes rural-specific considerations throughout.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Health
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Offers data on Arkansas health in 5 priority areas: access to care, addiction and mental health, infectious disease and vaccinations, maternal mortality, and obesity. Discusses trends over time and identifies action steps to improve health indicators. Includes rural-specific considerations throughout.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Health
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Georgia Loan Repayment Programs and Scholarship Awards Report: Fiscal Year 2024
Features sections on the Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program (PRAAP) and the Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program (DRAAP). Features county-level maps showing areas with improved access to care due to PRAAP and DRAAP.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Features sections on the Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program (PRAAP) and the Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program (DRAAP). Features county-level maps showing areas with improved access to care due to PRAAP and DRAAP.
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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