Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response
Changes in Bed-Based Measures of Surge Capacity from 2018 to 2022 among Rural and Urban Hospitals
Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location.
Author(s): Emma Kerr, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Did the Rural Health Infrastructure Break Down During the Pandemic? Evidence from the 2020 Meatpacking Plant COVID-19 Outbreaks
A webinar recording that discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural health infrastructure in Minnesota and South Dakota. Focuses on outbreaks experienced in meatpacking plants and subsequent impacts on surrounding rural communities. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Thomas P. Krumel
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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A webinar recording that discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural health infrastructure in Minnesota and South Dakota. Focuses on outbreaks experienced in meatpacking plants and subsequent impacts on surrounding rural communities. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Thomas P. Krumel
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Mapping Community Capacity to Reduce Vulnerability to Wildfire in Colorado, USA
Describes wildfire mitigation practices and the capacity of Colorado communities to conduct those projects relative to their wildfire risk. Discusses indicators of capacity in human, economic, natural, and social categories. Highlights the role of funding in determining community capacity.
Author(s): Karissa Courtney, Federico Holm, Jennifer Brousseau, et al.
Date: 11/2025
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Describes wildfire mitigation practices and the capacity of Colorado communities to conduct those projects relative to their wildfire risk. Discusses indicators of capacity in human, economic, natural, and social categories. Highlights the role of funding in determining community capacity.
Author(s): Karissa Courtney, Federico Holm, Jennifer Brousseau, et al.
Date: 11/2025
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Connected and Protected: The Power of Rural Cybersecurity
A recorded webinar focused on cybersecurity in rural communities. Discusses strategies and programs that help to innovate and strengthen rural cybersecurity. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Ann Cleaveland, Ashley Podhradsky, Josh Entringer, Sarah Morales
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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A recorded webinar focused on cybersecurity in rural communities. Discusses strategies and programs that help to innovate and strengthen rural cybersecurity. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Ann Cleaveland, Ashley Podhradsky, Josh Entringer, Sarah Morales
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Recovery Through a Disability Lens: Impacts of the 2023 Maui Wildfires on Disability Equity and Shared Prosperity
Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on the impacts of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the housing, employment and income, health, and life satisfaction of West Maui or Kula residents with disabilities. Details how disaster preparedness and recovery policy influence health and quality-of-life disparities for people with disabilities.
Additional links: Plain Language Version
Author(s): Daniela Bond-Smith, Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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2025 Cybersecurity Year in Review, Part Two: Mitigating Third-Party Risk, Ensuring Clinical Continuity and Addressing AI Risk
Explains steps healthcare organizations should take to address cybersecurity risks. Discusses the need to prepare for interruption to services of 30 days or longer and the importance of focusing on clinical continuity. Also provides examples of how AI is being used in cyberattacks.
Author(s): John Riggi, Scott Gee
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Explains steps healthcare organizations should take to address cybersecurity risks. Discusses the need to prepare for interruption to services of 30 days or longer and the importance of focusing on clinical continuity. Also provides examples of how AI is being used in cyberattacks.
Author(s): John Riggi, Scott Gee
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Doing More With Less: Turning Efficient Cybersecurity Into Savings In Rural Healthcare
Recording of an October 7, 2025, webinar regarding cybersecurity threats, how to proactively address these threats, and how to limit their impact. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of an October 7, 2025, webinar regarding cybersecurity threats, how to proactively address these threats, and how to limit their impact. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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2025 Cybersecurity Year in Review, Part One: Breaches and Defensive Measures
Provides an overview of cybersecurity issues currently impacting the healthcare field. Describes recent patterns in reported cyberattacks and identifies cybersecurity practices for prevention and mitigation. Discusses the need for healthcare facilities to understand their cyber risk exposure.
Author(s): John Riggi, Scott Gee
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of cybersecurity issues currently impacting the healthcare field. Describes recent patterns in reported cyberattacks and identifies cybersecurity practices for prevention and mitigation. Discusses the need for healthcare facilities to understand their cyber risk exposure.
Author(s): John Riggi, Scott Gee
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Health Industry Cybersecurity Sector Mapping and Risk Toolkit (SMART)
Provides templates and methodologies for healthcare providers, insurance plans, and manufacturers to map and identify systemic cybersecurity risks posed by third party technology, software, and communications services. Includes considerations for small and rural healthcare organizations.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity Working Group
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Provides templates and methodologies for healthcare providers, insurance plans, and manufacturers to map and identify systemic cybersecurity risks posed by third party technology, software, and communications services. Includes considerations for small and rural healthcare organizations.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity Working Group
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Comparing Disaster-Related Surge Staffing Practices Across Rural and Non-Rural Nursing Homes
Explores whether rural and non-rural nursing homes implemented different disaster-related staffing approaches. Analyzes data from 361 CMS-certified nursing homes that were exposed to the direct path of Hurricane Michael in 2018. Compares the change in pre- and post-disaster staffing across three dimensions of nursing home staffing: intensity, licensure composition, and employment composition.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 73(12), 3829-3835
Date: 09/2025
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Explores whether rural and non-rural nursing homes implemented different disaster-related staffing approaches. Analyzes data from 361 CMS-certified nursing homes that were exposed to the direct path of Hurricane Michael in 2018. Compares the change in pre- and post-disaster staffing across three dimensions of nursing home staffing: intensity, licensure composition, and employment composition.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 73(12), 3829-3835
Date: 09/2025
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