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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Economics and the economy

Beyond Connectivity: The Role of Broadband in Rural Economic Growth and Resilience
Reports on the economic value of broadband infrastructure for rural areas. Provides a variety of data on broadband and economic growth in rural communities and compares rural and urban gaps in broadband access. Features a broadband development case study for Beltrami County, Minnesota, which includes discussion of broadband's value for telehealth and other aspects of healthcare delivery and availability.
Author(s): Amanda Weinstein, May Erouart, Adam Dewbury
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Changes to Population Distribution and Commuting Patterns Blur the Line Between Rural and Urban
Highlights the change in commuting patterns between rural workers and urban areas and describes the impact on rural communities and economies. Discusses the multiple definitions of rural.
Author(s): Earlene K.P. Dowell
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Economic Role of Oklahoma Hospitals: Industry Profile & Economic Impacts
Reports on the economic impact of hospitals in Oklahoma, including data on revenue, hospital-supported jobs, direct wages, and more. See pages 10-11 for discussion of rural hospital access disparities.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma Hospital Association
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2024 Medicaid in Montana: How Medicaid Impacts Montana's State Budget, Economy, and Health
Report details the effect Medicaid has on healthcare, the economy, and the state budget of Montana, discussing Medicaid enrollment, service utilization, spending, and the impact of expansion. Discusses rural throughout.
Additional links: Databook
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Montana Healthcare Foundation
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How Does Hawai'i's Economic Geography Affect Its Healthcare Industry?
Reports on geographic factors influencing healthcare economics in Hawai'i, including discussion of geographic decentralization, productivity, workforce recruitment, reimbursement and payment, and more. Highlights barriers to healthcare access and service availability in rural, isolated, and remote communities.
Author(s): Steven Bond-Smith, Daniela Bond-Smith
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i (UHERO)
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Identifying Priority Geographic Locations for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Services in the Appalachian Region
Examines the relationship among diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services, economic distress, and diabetes prevalence in Appalachia. Includes maps presenting these relationships as well as discussion about providing access to DSMES services.
Author(s): Jacob T. Wittman, Dayna S. Alexander, Melissa Bing, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 04/2024
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"Economic Development is Population Health": A New Vision for Rural Hospital Leadership
Describes the role that rural hospital investments can play in contributing to community health. Features a Wisconsin Critical Access Hospital making infrastructure investments in their downtown and a New Hampshire medical center investing in public transit and affordable housing.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Access to Capital and Credit for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses in Appalachia
Reports on small business, entrepreneurship, and capital supply and demand in Appalachia. Describes regional and national trends, and identifies contributing factors. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, and discusses characteristics and challenges of rural areas throughout.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Greener Pastures
A documentary that follows 4 Midwestern farm families over a number of years and examines issues such as mental health, social isolation, climate change, and economic uncertainty. Provides commentary on farming life in rural America.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Public Broadcasting Service
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The Impact of Rural General Hospital Closures on Communities—A Systematic Review of the Literature
Presents a literature review of studies on the health and economic effects hospital closures have had on rural communities. Analyzes 21 studies completed in the previous 8 years and details the economic and healthcare access outcomes identified.
Author(s): Carol A. Mills, Valerie A. Yeager, Kathleen T. Unroe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 238-248
Date: 03/2024
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