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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

Rural Community Health Initiative: Compendium of Best Practices
Presents a collection of community-based health initiatives, including a school health initiative, a COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education program, and telehealth consortia, among others. Describes successful outcomes and sources of funding for each program.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Optimizing Care Coordination to Address Social Determinants of Health Needs for Dual-Use Veterans
Explores a study evaluating a care coordination program that aims to address social determinants of health (SDOH) for veterans who use both Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities and non-VA hospitals. Highlights the social worker-led program to help address SDOH factors, such as connecting veterans with transportation, homelessness resources, and financial assistance, among others. Discusses the role rurality plays in veterans' ability to access services and care.
Author(s): Heidi Sjoberg, Wenhui Liu, Carly Rohs, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22(59)
Date: 01/2022
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Association Between County-Level Risk Groups and COVID-19 Outcomes in the United States: A Socioecological Study
Analysis of 2,701 counties from January 2020 to February 2021 to identify distinct groups of counties, based on sociodemographic, health, and environmental domains and the association with COVID-19 cases and deaths. Features statistics and county-level maps showing rates of COVID-19 cases, rates of COVID-19 deaths, and county-level risk factors with breakdowns including rural counties with social and medical vulnerabilities and older rural counties with greater social assets.
Author(s): Sadiya S. Khan, Amy E. Krefman, Megan E. McCabe, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 81
Date: 01/2022
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Report to Congress on Leveraging Federal Programs to Prevent and Control Diabetes and Its Complications, 2021
Report examining diabetes prevalence and health impact nationwide, offering recommendations for reducing risks, preventing type 2 diabetes, and treating and managing diabetes. Discusses diabetes and other chronic conditions in rural areas, rural health disparities, and rural-specific recommendations for prevention and management.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organizations: National Clinical Care Commission, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Evaluation of State-Led Surveillance of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome — Six U.S. States, 2018–2021
Examines data collection challenges and infrastructure gaps that impact surveillance of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), based on information from six states with mandated NAS reporting. Includes brief discussion of rural concerns, including disparities in the incidence of opioid use disorder and NAS and gaps in rural infrastructure and access to care.
Author(s): Shahla M. Jilani, Kristina West, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(2), 37-42
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Benefits of a Telehealth Approach to Treating Mental Illness among Veterans in Rural Settings
Details a study on the VA's use of telemedicine to provide mental healthcare to rural veterans. Focuses on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially women with military sexual trauma (MST). Includes feedback from veterans on their experience with tele-mental health treatment.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Chronic Diseases and Associated Risk Factors Among Adults in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
Highlights a study on the prevalence of chronic diseases in Puerto Rico before Hurricane Maria and the level of support available to patients before and after the storm. Bases conclusions on 2 studies conducted in 2015 and 2019. Breaks down data by participant characteristics, such as age, employment, and rurality of residence, among other measures.
Author(s): Josiemer Mattei, Martha Tamez, June O'Neill, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(1), e2139986
Date: 01/2022
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High-Performing Rural Health System
Update to the September 2011 RUPRI Health Panel document "The High Performance Rural Health Care System of the Future." Describes affordable and accessible healthcare for all rural residents through a sustainable system delivering high quality, high value services. Defines pillars of accessibility, affordability, community health, and quality.
Author(s): Andrew Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Children in the Fields: The Struggles You Should Know
Report examining the challenges affecting migrant farmworker children based on interviews with 37 children from the West, East, and Mid-Central regions. Addresses health struggles including bodily pain and injury, heat stress, COVID-19, pesticide exposure, and mental health. Also covers education and financial struggles and human trafficking vulnerabilities.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, Children in the Fields Campaign
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Arkansas Red County: County Life Expectancy Profile 2022
Report on Arkansas's Red Counties, defined as the Arkansas counties with a life expectancy at birth more than 6 years below the Arkansas county with the highest life expectancy at birth. Offers comparisons of red and non-red counties over time and analysis of health outcomes, behaviors, clinical care indicators, social and economic factors, and physical environment factors for red counties.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Office of Health Disparities Elimination
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