Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response
Nurse-Led Mobile Clinics to Improve Rural Health Access and Disaster Preparedness: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Texas Program
Examines the impact of nurse-led mobile clinics on healthcare access, continuity of care, and disaster preparedness in rural Texas. Provides a program evaluation of the mobile clinic model using mixed methods and describes mobile clinic structure, interprofessional education (IPE), disaster preparedness and response, rural health access, sustainability, and policy implications.
Author(s): Nicole Peters Kroll, Sharon L. Dormire, Kelly L. Wilson
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(6), 702
Date: 05/2026
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Examines the impact of nurse-led mobile clinics on healthcare access, continuity of care, and disaster preparedness in rural Texas. Provides a program evaluation of the mobile clinic model using mixed methods and describes mobile clinic structure, interprofessional education (IPE), disaster preparedness and response, rural health access, sustainability, and policy implications.
Author(s): Nicole Peters Kroll, Sharon L. Dormire, Kelly L. Wilson
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(6), 702
Date: 05/2026
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Rural Community Perspectives on Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina
Assesses community perspectives of long-term recovery in two rural western North Carolina counties severely affected by Hurricane Helene. Focuses on housing, communication, transportation, mental health, and food insecurity.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Horney, Lilly Moreau
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 60-68
Date: 04/2026
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Assesses community perspectives of long-term recovery in two rural western North Carolina counties severely affected by Hurricane Helene. Focuses on housing, communication, transportation, mental health, and food insecurity.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Horney, Lilly Moreau
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 60-68
Date: 04/2026
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FirstNet Operations Manual
Provides an overview of the FirstNet tools and technologies. Designed to help emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and 911/emergency communications integrate FirstNet into operations. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: FirstNet Authority
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Provides an overview of the FirstNet tools and technologies. Designed to help emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and 911/emergency communications integrate FirstNet into operations. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: FirstNet Authority
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COVID-19: Federal Efforts to Support Behavioral Health Programs During the Pandemic
Describes how selected Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awardees provided behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and how SAMHSA supported awardees' response to the pandemic. Discusses how SAMHSA's advisory councils and Policy Lab supported the agency's COVID-19 response. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes how selected Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awardees provided behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and how SAMHSA supported awardees' response to the pandemic. Discusses how SAMHSA's advisory councils and Policy Lab supported the agency's COVID-19 response. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Fourteen of Thirty Selected Indian Health Service and Rural Providers Did Not Comply or May Not Have Complied With Terms and Conditions and Federal Requirements for Expending Provider Relief Fund Payments
Examines whether 30 selected Indian Health Service (IHS) and rural providers that received Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments spent funds in accordance with Federal and program requirements. Describes unallowable and potentially unallowable expenditures and inaccurately calculated or unsupported lost revenues and their causes. Presents recommendations for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and HRSA's response.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines whether 30 selected Indian Health Service (IHS) and rural providers that received Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments spent funds in accordance with Federal and program requirements. Describes unallowable and potentially unallowable expenditures and inaccurately calculated or unsupported lost revenues and their causes. Presents recommendations for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and HRSA's response.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Strategies for Effective Alternate Care Sites in Rural Iowa
Discusses alternate care sites for rural Iowa during times of disaster impacting healthcare access. Uses a literature review and survey of 27 Iowa healthcare and county emergency managers to highlight areas of readiness and opportunity in rural disaster preparedness. Offers 3 recommendations based on study findings related to regional collaboration, proactively addressing staffing and resource constraints, and cross-sector partnerships.
Author(s): Lynn J. Royer
Citation: Pracademic Affairs, 6
Date: 01/2026
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Discusses alternate care sites for rural Iowa during times of disaster impacting healthcare access. Uses a literature review and survey of 27 Iowa healthcare and county emergency managers to highlight areas of readiness and opportunity in rural disaster preparedness. Offers 3 recommendations based on study findings related to regional collaboration, proactively addressing staffing and resource constraints, and cross-sector partnerships.
Author(s): Lynn J. Royer
Citation: Pracademic Affairs, 6
Date: 01/2026
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Finding Your Way: Rural Areas - Models and Methods to Support Connection in Rural Areas - Michigan
A guidebook that provides information on social systems for rural areas, covering topics such as collaboration, human services, community engagement, emergency preparedness, volunteer recruitment, healthcare quality, and more. Includes rural resources and contact information for related Michigan organizations.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
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A guidebook that provides information on social systems for rural areas, covering topics such as collaboration, human services, community engagement, emergency preparedness, volunteer recruitment, healthcare quality, and more. Includes rural resources and contact information for related Michigan organizations.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
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Evidence Matters: Transforming Knowledge into Housing and Community Development Policy - Rural Housing
Examines housing challenges in rural areas such as affordability, structural inadequacy, homelessness, aging in place, and disaster response and recovery. Discusses the importance of defining rural as well as local, state, and federal policy and initiatives that address rural housing issues.
Author(s): Gretchen Armstrong, Amanda Gold, Sage Computing
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Examines housing challenges in rural areas such as affordability, structural inadequacy, homelessness, aging in place, and disaster response and recovery. Discusses the importance of defining rural as well as local, state, and federal policy and initiatives that address rural housing issues.
Author(s): Gretchen Armstrong, Amanda Gold, Sage Computing
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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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.
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.
Author(s): Thomas P. Krumel
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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