Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health occupations
School Nurses' Perceptions of Mental Health Responsibilities Within School Nursing Practice: A Q Methodology Study
Examines the perspectives of school nurses on addressing mental health needs of students in rural schools. Analyzes feedback from 70 school nurses working in eastern North Carolina on issues such as nursing responsibilities, mental health, suicide risk, crisis response, and more.
Author(s): Travis E. Lewis, Deby E. Tyndall, Mitzi C. Pestaner
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(10), e70242
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the perspectives of school nurses on addressing mental health needs of students in rural schools. Analyzes feedback from 70 school nurses working in eastern North Carolina on issues such as nursing responsibilities, mental health, suicide risk, crisis response, and more.
Author(s): Travis E. Lewis, Deby E. Tyndall, Mitzi C. Pestaner
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(10), e70242
Date: 10/2026
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Rural Initiatives Aim to Reach 'Overlooked' Patients in Multiple Sclerosis Deserts
Highlights programs to improve care for people with multiple sclerosis living in rural areas. Describes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and challenges accessing specialty care. Features an online training program for primary care providers, a pilot program focused on community health workers, and a Veterans Administration telehealth program providing neurologist consultations.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights programs to improve care for people with multiple sclerosis living in rural areas. Describes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and challenges accessing specialty care. Features an online training program for primary care providers, a pilot program focused on community health workers, and a Veterans Administration telehealth program providing neurologist consultations.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Frontiers: A Rural Maternal Health Podcast Series
A podcast series that examines strategies hospitals use to improve access to maternal healthcare and connect rural areas with clinical expertise.
Additional links: Episode 1 - Frontiers: Committing to Rural Maternal Care, Episode 2 - Frontiers: The People Powering Rural Maternal Care, Episode 3 - Connected Rural Maternal Care, Closer to Home
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast series that examines strategies hospitals use to improve access to maternal healthcare and connect rural areas with clinical expertise.
Additional links: Episode 1 - Frontiers: Committing to Rural Maternal Care, Episode 2 - Frontiers: The People Powering Rural Maternal Care, Episode 3 - Connected Rural Maternal Care, Closer to Home
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025: Section-by-Section Summary
Provides a section-by-section description of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (P.L. 119-44). Includes background information and a summary of each provision. Table 1 presents expired authorizations and appropriations in the SUPPORT Act of 2018, related annual appropriations, and whether the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act reauthorized each provision.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides a section-by-section description of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (P.L. 119-44). Includes background information and a summary of each provision. Table 1 presents expired authorizations and appropriations in the SUPPORT Act of 2018, related annual appropriations, and whether the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act reauthorized each provision.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Comparing Physicians' Perceptions of Access to Behavioral Health Resources in Rural and Urban Practices
Explores the differences in the perceptions of rural and urban physicians about access to behavioral health resources for their patients. Draws conclusions from findings of the 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians by rural versus urban ZIP codes. Breaks down data by specialty, years of practice, and average time spent in different care locations, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Natalia V. Oster, Xiaochu Hu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70226
Date: 09/2026
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Explores the differences in the perceptions of rural and urban physicians about access to behavioral health resources for their patients. Draws conclusions from findings of the 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians by rural versus urban ZIP codes. Breaks down data by specialty, years of practice, and average time spent in different care locations, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Natalia V. Oster, Xiaochu Hu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70226
Date: 09/2026
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What Will It Take to Sustain Maternal Care in Rural Communities? These Strategies Are Helping Keep Care Close to Home
Discusses challenges facing rural maternal healthcare, such as workforce shortages, low birth volumes, and reimbursement. Provides strategies to help improve sustainability, focusing on leadership, diversifying the workforce, strengthening regional and community partnerships, extending community care, addressing behavioral health and social needs, and supporting financial sustainability.
Author(s): Julia J. Resnick, Aisha Syeda
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Discusses challenges facing rural maternal healthcare, such as workforce shortages, low birth volumes, and reimbursement. Provides strategies to help improve sustainability, focusing on leadership, diversifying the workforce, strengthening regional and community partnerships, extending community care, addressing behavioral health and social needs, and supporting financial sustainability.
Author(s): Julia J. Resnick, Aisha Syeda
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Increasing Access to Rural Behavioral Health Care Through a Community-Based Workforce
Provides examples for improving access to behavioral healthcare via a community-based workforce in rural areas. Discusses behavioral health workforce needs in rural communities, prioritizing relationship building alongside formal training, promoting conditions for peer support specialists to thrive, integrating community-based roles into clinical teams and community settings, and leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and other time-limited funds to build long-term sustainability.
Author(s): Hadley Fitzgerald, Ashley Jasko
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Provides examples for improving access to behavioral healthcare via a community-based workforce in rural areas. Discusses behavioral health workforce needs in rural communities, prioritizing relationship building alongside formal training, promoting conditions for peer support specialists to thrive, integrating community-based roles into clinical teams and community settings, and leveraging the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and other time-limited funds to build long-term sustainability.
Author(s): Hadley Fitzgerald, Ashley Jasko
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Expanding Peer Recovery Services in Rural Georgia: A Recovery Community Organization's Approach
Provides information on recovery community organizations (RCOs) and their role in providing support to people with substance use disorder (SUD). Discusses the implementation, programs, services, staffing, funding, and impact of an RCO in rural Georgia.
Author(s): Vanessa Finisse
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Provides information on recovery community organizations (RCOs) and their role in providing support to people with substance use disorder (SUD). Discusses the implementation, programs, services, staffing, funding, and impact of an RCO in rural Georgia.
Author(s): Vanessa Finisse
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Community Relationships and Physician Retention in Clinician Shortage Areas
Results of a study examining the connections of community needs fulfillment and community integration with anticipated retention of physicians in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and urban HPSAs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of practice, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alike Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and hospital-based sites.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, David F. Schmitz, Thomas R. Konrad, Thomas E. Rauner, Mike Shimmens
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635692
Date: 09/2026
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Results of a study examining the connections of community needs fulfillment and community integration with anticipated retention of physicians in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and urban HPSAs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of practice, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alike Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and hospital-based sites.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, David F. Schmitz, Thomas R. Konrad, Thomas E. Rauner, Mike Shimmens
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635692
Date: 09/2026
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Alpha-gal Syndrome Symptom Profiles and Diagnostic Experiences Among Farmers and Ranchers
Surveys 201 farmers and ranchers with an alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) diagnosis on their knowledge of AGS prior to diagnosis, symptoms, and diagnosis experience. Discusses demographic differences, the number of medical provider visits for a diagnosis, and the type of medical professional providing the diagnosis.
Author(s): Alexandrea M. Welch, Cheryl L. Beseler, Shaun T. Cross
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine
Date: 09/2026
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Surveys 201 farmers and ranchers with an alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) diagnosis on their knowledge of AGS prior to diagnosis, symptoms, and diagnosis experience. Discusses demographic differences, the number of medical provider visits for a diagnosis, and the type of medical professional providing the diagnosis.
Author(s): Alexandrea M. Welch, Cheryl L. Beseler, Shaun T. Cross
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine
Date: 09/2026
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