Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities
A Comparison of Rural and Urban Differences in Geographic Proximity to Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Services in Tennessee
Examines distance and travel time disparities for outpatient stroke rehabilitation (OSR) services in rural and urban areas of Tennessee. Analyzes 185 facilities for OSR and provides rural versus urban median travel distance and time according to OSR service type. Includes county-level maps showing mean travel distance by kilometers.
Author(s): Phoebe M. Tran, Benjamin Fogelson, Robert E. Heidel, Raj Baljepally
Citation: Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention 45(1), 65-71
Date: 01/2025
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Examines distance and travel time disparities for outpatient stroke rehabilitation (OSR) services in rural and urban areas of Tennessee. Analyzes 185 facilities for OSR and provides rural versus urban median travel distance and time according to OSR service type. Includes county-level maps showing mean travel distance by kilometers.
Author(s): Phoebe M. Tran, Benjamin Fogelson, Robert E. Heidel, Raj Baljepally
Citation: Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention 45(1), 65-71
Date: 01/2025
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Health Differences Between Rural and Non-Rural Texas Counties Based on 2023 County Health Rankings
Examines rural versus nonrural counties in Texas by health outcomes and factors. Utilizes 2023 County Health Rankings data to explore county-level health disparities and includes maps showing health insurance, poverty, length and quality of life, socioeconomic factors, physical environment, health behavior, and clinical care ratings by county.
Author(s): Elizabeth Ekren, Shadi Maleki, Cristian Curran, Cassidy Watkins, Melinda M. Villagran
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 2
Date: 01/2025
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Examines rural versus nonrural counties in Texas by health outcomes and factors. Utilizes 2023 County Health Rankings data to explore county-level health disparities and includes maps showing health insurance, poverty, length and quality of life, socioeconomic factors, physical environment, health behavior, and clinical care ratings by county.
Author(s): Elizabeth Ekren, Shadi Maleki, Cristian Curran, Cassidy Watkins, Melinda M. Villagran
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 2
Date: 01/2025
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2025-2030 Maryland Rural Health Strategic Plan
Recommends priorities for organizations and programs to consider as they provide health services across rural Maryland. Features a county-level map showing distribution of rural regions in Maryland and includes statistics on Maryland's rural population, with breakdowns by region and rural designation.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Department of Health
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Recommends priorities for organizations and programs to consider as they provide health services across rural Maryland. Features a county-level map showing distribution of rural regions in Maryland and includes statistics on Maryland's rural population, with breakdowns by region and rural designation.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Department of Health
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Rural Profile of Arkansas 2025
Reports on social, demographic, and economic conditions in rural Arkansas, including data and discussion on topics including rural and urban definitions, health status and outcomes, demographics, infant mortality, education, poverty, employment, and food insecurity, among others. Provides rural-urban comparisons as well as county-level data.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Research & Extension
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Reports on social, demographic, and economic conditions in rural Arkansas, including data and discussion on topics including rural and urban definitions, health status and outcomes, demographics, infant mortality, education, poverty, employment, and food insecurity, among others. Provides rural-urban comparisons as well as county-level data.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Research & Extension
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Comparing Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Machine Accessibility Among Urban and Rural County Hospitals in Wisconsin
Examines radiologic services in hospitals and disparities in access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) machines in rural versus urban Wisconsin hospitals. Provides data on rural and urban counties in Wisconsin, including population, county square miles, available MRI and CT machines, and person to MRI/CT ratios. Includes maps showing county-level access to radiologic services as well as comparisons across Wisconsin's rural and urban counties, all Wisconsin counties, and all U.S. counties.
Author(s): Benjamin Burdorf, William MacDonald, Pravallika Kesarla, Samantha Burdorf
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 124(3), 243-248
Date: 2025
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Examines radiologic services in hospitals and disparities in access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) machines in rural versus urban Wisconsin hospitals. Provides data on rural and urban counties in Wisconsin, including population, county square miles, available MRI and CT machines, and person to MRI/CT ratios. Includes maps showing county-level access to radiologic services as well as comparisons across Wisconsin's rural and urban counties, all Wisconsin counties, and all U.S. counties.
Author(s): Benjamin Burdorf, William MacDonald, Pravallika Kesarla, Samantha Burdorf
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 124(3), 243-248
Date: 2025
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The University of Arizona Center for Rural Health Annual Report FY 2024-2025
Highlights the Center for Rural Health's past-year accomplishments, and describes challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans in the upcoming year. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Highlights the Center for Rural Health's past-year accomplishments, and describes challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans in the upcoming year. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Provider‐to‐Provider Telemedicine for Sepsis Is Used Less Frequently in Communities with High Social Vulnerability
Discusses how sepsis impacts rural and other community types and the role of provider-to-provider emergency department (ED)-based telehealth consultation (tele-ED) to address sepsis in these communities. Analyzes data from 1,191 patients treated for sepsis in rural, Midwestern EDs and the prevalence of utilizing tele-ED. Includes data breakdowns according to demographics, health conditions, provider type, hospital type, and county type.
Author(s): Kevin J. Tu, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Uche E. Okoro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2025
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Discusses how sepsis impacts rural and other community types and the role of provider-to-provider emergency department (ED)-based telehealth consultation (tele-ED) to address sepsis in these communities. Analyzes data from 1,191 patients treated for sepsis in rural, Midwestern EDs and the prevalence of utilizing tele-ED. Includes data breakdowns according to demographics, health conditions, provider type, hospital type, and county type.
Author(s): Kevin J. Tu, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Uche E. Okoro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2025
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Sexualized Drug Use Factors Among Rural Sexual Minority Men
Presents a study identifying factors that correspond to sexualized drug use, or substance use immediately before or during sex, for rural sexual minority men. Highlights risk factors of sexualized drug use, such as HIV infection, and details corresponding demographic and behavioral characteristics.
Author(s): Christopher Owens, Benjamin N. Montemayor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12917
Date: 2025
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Presents a study identifying factors that correspond to sexualized drug use, or substance use immediately before or during sex, for rural sexual minority men. Highlights risk factors of sexualized drug use, such as HIV infection, and details corresponding demographic and behavioral characteristics.
Author(s): Christopher Owens, Benjamin N. Montemayor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12917
Date: 2025
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Addressing Workforce Challenges Across the Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summary of presentations and discussions from a July 2024 public workshop to address workforce needs and challenges related to behavioral healthcare. Includes discussions of telepsychiatry collaborative care to improve rural access and capacity, and recruiting and retaining Native American healthcare providers in behavioral health settings.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Summary of presentations and discussions from a July 2024 public workshop to address workforce needs and challenges related to behavioral healthcare. Includes discussions of telepsychiatry collaborative care to improve rural access and capacity, and recruiting and retaining Native American healthcare providers in behavioral health settings.
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Association Between Obesogenic Environments and Childhood Overweight/Obesity Across the United States: Differences by Rurality
Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
Author(s): Kara Davis, Demetrius A. Abshire, Courtney Monroe, Caroline Rudisill, Andrew T. Kaczynski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
Author(s): Kara Davis, Demetrius A. Abshire, Courtney Monroe, Caroline Rudisill, Andrew T. Kaczynski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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