Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency medical services
Unequal Paths to Care: How Region, Rurality, and Deprivation Determine Transport to Verified Trauma Centers among the Critically Injured
Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Georgia Emergency Medicine Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on emergency medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and emergency medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on emergency medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and emergency medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Rural Pediatric Readiness: Improving Emergency Care for Kids
Features rural providers in Texas and Wyoming working to improve their ability to provide quality emergency care to pediatric patients, as well as a pediatric readiness training program in Georgia.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features rural providers in Texas and Wyoming working to improve their ability to provide quality emergency care to pediatric patients, as well as a pediatric readiness training program in Georgia.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Sex Differences in Rural Prehospital ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care
Compares prehospital treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by sex in rural populations using 2016-2020 STEMI registry data from a rural cohort in North Carolina. Includes data breakdowns by clinical characteristics.
Author(s): Michael W. Supples, Randy S. Carpenter, Nicklaus P. Ashburn, et al.
Citation: Emergency Medicine Journal, 43(8), 486-492
Date: 06/2026
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Compares prehospital treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by sex in rural populations using 2016-2020 STEMI registry data from a rural cohort in North Carolina. Includes data breakdowns by clinical characteristics.
Author(s): Michael W. Supples, Randy S. Carpenter, Nicklaus P. Ashburn, et al.
Citation: Emergency Medicine Journal, 43(8), 486-492
Date: 06/2026
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A National Description of Emergency Medical Services Patient Utilization Patterns
Evaluates 9,508,809 emergency medical services encounters from 2024 to identify utilization patterns. Categorizes patients into single, moderate, high, and very-high utilization groups and explores various demographic and health conditions within those groups. Includes comparison of urban, rural, and super-rural areas for very-high utilization and single encounter groups.
Author(s): Antonio R. Fernandez, Jonathan Brent Myers, Scott S. Bourn, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates 9,508,809 emergency medical services encounters from 2024 to identify utilization patterns. Categorizes patients into single, moderate, high, and very-high utilization groups and explores various demographic and health conditions within those groups. Includes comparison of urban, rural, and super-rural areas for very-high utilization and single encounter groups.
Author(s): Antonio R. Fernandez, Jonathan Brent Myers, Scott S. Bourn, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(6)
Date: 06/2026
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Connection for a Cure: How Broadband Access Supports Telehealth Use
Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Hierarchical Bayesian Analysis of Prehospital Timelines for Elderly Adults in Rural and Urban Motor-Vehicle Crashes
Analyzes emergency medical services (EMS) response and prehospital timelines for older adults involved in vehicle crashes in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes 2018-2023 crash data from Ohio and examines rural versus urban characteristics of crashes, prehospital time, and distance traveled.
Author(s): Philip F. Balyagati, Abdul S. Ngereza, Emmanuel Kidando, et al.
Citation: Journal of Safety Research, 97, 453-462
Date: 06/2026
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Analyzes emergency medical services (EMS) response and prehospital timelines for older adults involved in vehicle crashes in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes 2018-2023 crash data from Ohio and examines rural versus urban characteristics of crashes, prehospital time, and distance traveled.
Author(s): Philip F. Balyagati, Abdul S. Ngereza, Emmanuel Kidando, et al.
Citation: Journal of Safety Research, 97, 453-462
Date: 06/2026
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Hospital Closures Increase Emergency Care Travel Time: Rural-Urban Disparities
Examines the relationship between travel time to emergency care and hospital closures. Utilizes data from 2012-2023 hospital closures in Texas and analyzes 6,883 census tracts according to travel time to the nearest and second nearest emergency department (ED), with additional breakdowns by population characteristics and geographic categories of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Huiwen Zheng, Scott Horel, Christine Crudo Blackburn
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the relationship between travel time to emergency care and hospital closures. Utilizes data from 2012-2023 hospital closures in Texas and analyzes 6,883 census tracts according to travel time to the nearest and second nearest emergency department (ED), with additional breakdowns by population characteristics and geographic categories of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Huiwen Zheng, Scott Horel, Christine Crudo Blackburn
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 63
Date: 06/2026
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2026
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers payment incentives in Medicare, the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions for beneficiaries, Medicare payment operations and their role in identifying improper payments, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, and access to hospice and certain complex palliative services for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer. Includes a mandated report regarding the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers payment incentives in Medicare, the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions for beneficiaries, Medicare payment operations and their role in identifying improper payments, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, and access to hospice and certain complex palliative services for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer. Includes a mandated report regarding the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Preventing Death and Supporting Recovery, with Ray Antonacci and Sarah Czarnecki
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Lincoln County Ambulance District Chief Ray Antonacci and Battalion Chief Sarah Czarnecki. Focuses on a new initiative allowing them to administer buprenorphine to incarcerated individuals experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms. Part 1 in a 3-part series featuring the 2026 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Innovation Tank finalists.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Lincoln County Ambulance District Chief Ray Antonacci and Battalion Chief Sarah Czarnecki. Focuses on a new initiative allowing them to administer buprenorphine to incarcerated individuals experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms. Part 1 in a 3-part series featuring the 2026 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Innovation Tank finalists.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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