Rural Health
Resources by Topic: AI
Artificial Intelligence as a Health Communication Infrastructure for Metro and Nonmetro Residents
Examines trends in the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for health information. Analyzes 2026 survey data from 1,343 adults regarding their AI use and includes additional breakdowns according to sociodemographics, location of Illinois or other U.S. state, and rural, suburban, or urban location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
view details
Examines trends in the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for health information. Analyzes 2026 survey data from 1,343 adults regarding their AI use and includes additional breakdowns according to sociodemographics, location of Illinois or other U.S. state, and rural, suburban, or urban location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
view details
Centering Innovation in Rural Communities, with Alycia Bayne
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Alycia Bayne, Associate Director for Public Health Research at the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. Focuses on rural innovation insights drawn from work on a new guide that rural communities can use to design, implement, and scale innovative approaches that build on local realities and strengths.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Alycia Bayne, Associate Director for Public Health Research at the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. Focuses on rural innovation insights drawn from work on a new guide that rural communities can use to design, implement, and scale innovative approaches that build on local realities and strengths.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
State RHTP & Telehealth Database
Excel spreadsheet detailing the telehealth-related initiatives included in each state's Rural Health Transformation Program project narrative. Allows users to filter by telehealth modality, healthcare issue addressed, proposed use of AI, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
Excel spreadsheet detailing the telehealth-related initiatives included in each state's Rural Health Transformation Program project narrative. Allows users to filter by telehealth modality, healthcare issue addressed, proposed use of AI, and more.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
Washington's Health Workforce Sentinel Network Findings Brief: Rural Health Workforce, Spring 2026
Reports on rural health workforce challenges in Washington State using survey response data from healthcare employers. Highlights topics including workforce recruitment and retention, facility-level needs and challenges, workforce pathway and early-career education strategies, and AI use.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Reports on rural health workforce challenges in Washington State using survey response data from healthcare employers. Highlights topics including workforce recruitment and retention, facility-level needs and challenges, workforce pathway and early-career education strategies, and AI use.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Washington's Health Workforce Sentinel Network Findings Brief: Rural Health Clinics, Spring 2026
Reports on workforce and facility-related challenges at Rural Health Clinics in Washington using April/May 2026 survey data. Discusses causes of workforce supply and retention issues, facility-level challenges and planning, healthcare pathway and career-development programs, and AI use.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Reports on workforce and facility-related challenges at Rural Health Clinics in Washington using April/May 2026 survey data. Discusses causes of workforce supply and retention issues, facility-level challenges and planning, healthcare pathway and career-development programs, and AI use.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: The Health Workforce Sentinel Network, UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Robotics and Technologies for the Safety and Health of Farmers: A Scoping Review
Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
view details
Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
view details
How Wearables and Other Digital Tools Are Driving Innovation in Behavioral Health
Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Making Rural Communities Visible in Artificial Intelligence Through Rural Proofing in Kansas and Beyond
Discusses issues related to rural underrepresentation in artificial intelligence-related health systems and details a rural-proofing policy framework for Kansas to ensure rural AI data collection, design, and governance are taken into account.
Author(s): Ziwei Qi, Tatiana Lin, Ayo Olagoke
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federation of American Scientists
view details
Discusses issues related to rural underrepresentation in artificial intelligence-related health systems and details a rural-proofing policy framework for Kansas to ensure rural AI data collection, design, and governance are taken into account.
Author(s): Ziwei Qi, Tatiana Lin, Ayo Olagoke
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federation of American Scientists
view details
Why Are Rural Hospitals Closing in the U.S.? Predictors Identified Using Explainable Machine Learning
Examines rural hospital closures in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. Utilizes national longitudinal data and explainable machine learning (XML) to analyze 2,683 rural hospitals according to financial, operational, and demographic characteristics as well as closure risks. Discusses the utility of longitudinal data integrated into XML to observe hospital trends and create early warning systems.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Tesfamariam M. Abuhay, Hana E. Hinkle
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 1049
Date: 05/2026
view details
Examines rural hospital closures in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. Utilizes national longitudinal data and explainable machine learning (XML) to analyze 2,683 rural hospitals according to financial, operational, and demographic characteristics as well as closure risks. Discusses the utility of longitudinal data integrated into XML to observe hospital trends and create early warning systems.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Tesfamariam M. Abuhay, Hana E. Hinkle
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 1049
Date: 05/2026
view details
Digital Innovations at Community Health Centers: AI Ambient Scribing in Rural Health Care
Describes how artificial intelligence (AI) ambient scribing technology is used in community health centers and its potential implications for rural and frontier health centers. Covers the documentation experience, impact on comprehensive care, and patient experience.
Author(s): Katie Coleman, Nicole Van Borkulo
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Describes how artificial intelligence (AI) ambient scribing technology is used in community health centers and its potential implications for rural and frontier health centers. Covers the documentation experience, impact on comprehensive care, and patient experience.
Author(s): Katie Coleman, Nicole Van Borkulo
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details