Rural Health
Resources by Topic: AI
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Understanding Artificial Intelligence and How It Can Be Used in Transit
Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in transit agencies. Includes the results of a survey among 24 rural, tribal, and other transit agencies about their use of AI, potential uses of AI, regulations, and potential funding sources. Offers a 6-step process for implementation following best practices.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Advancing Technology Innovation through the Rural Health Transformation Program
Identifies common themes across Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plans related to proposed health technology initiatives. Covers the information technology infrastructure, telehealth and remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence, and catalyst funds and pilot programs.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Identifies common themes across Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plans related to proposed health technology initiatives. Covers the information technology infrastructure, telehealth and remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence, and catalyst funds and pilot programs.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Multicounty Outbreak of Salmonella Agbeni Linked to Ice in a Cooler at a County Fair — Illinois, August 2024
Reports on a salmonella outbreak in Illinois that originated at a rural county fair. Describes how the outbreak was identified by the county sheriff during jury screening due to many in the jury pool being ill. Mentions the use of AI for hypothesis generation as a useful approach in this rural setting for situational awareness and early case finding.
Author(s): Katherine E. Houser
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(7), 93-97
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on a salmonella outbreak in Illinois that originated at a rural county fair. Describes how the outbreak was identified by the county sheriff during jury screening due to many in the jury pool being ill. Mentions the use of AI for hypothesis generation as a useful approach in this rural setting for situational awareness and early case finding.
Author(s): Katherine E. Houser
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(7), 93-97
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Closing the Digital Divide: AI Governance for Rural Hospitals
Explores how rural healthcare leaders can design artificial intelligence (AI) governance frameworks that reflect the realities of rural care. Summarizes a discussion among rural healthcare leaders regarding their experiences with AI governance and identifies 7 best practices.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, Microsoft
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Explores how rural healthcare leaders can design artificial intelligence (AI) governance frameworks that reflect the realities of rural care. Summarizes a discussion among rural healthcare leaders regarding their experiences with AI governance and identifies 7 best practices.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, Microsoft
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Predictors of Rural Hospital Closures in the United States: A Systematic Review and Call for AI-Driven Early Warning Systems
Examines financial, workforce, policy, economic, market, and demographic factors related to rural hospital closures and the development of AI warning systems based on these factors. Analyzes studies, published between 2013-2024, on rural hospital closures to identify closure predictors and discusses the creation of tools that may assist in identifying hospital distress, allowing stakeholders to intervene in a timely way.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Zhi Li, Hana E. Hinkle, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 86
Date: 12/2025
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Examines financial, workforce, policy, economic, market, and demographic factors related to rural hospital closures and the development of AI warning systems based on these factors. Analyzes studies, published between 2013-2024, on rural hospital closures to identify closure predictors and discusses the creation of tools that may assist in identifying hospital distress, allowing stakeholders to intervene in a timely way.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Zhi Li, Hana E. Hinkle, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 86
Date: 12/2025
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