Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health screening
'No Safe Level of Lead': How Mining Towns Are Reducing the Risk of Lead Exposure – And What Other Rural Communities Can Learn from Them
Highlights efforts in rural Idaho and Kansas to raise awareness of the dangers of lead exposure. Discusses health screenings and follow-up care, as well as outreach activities and educational materials.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights efforts in rural Idaho and Kansas to raise awareness of the dangers of lead exposure. Discusses health screenings and follow-up care, as well as outreach activities and educational materials.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Roadblocks to Rural Health: State Transportation Policies' Impact on Health Care Access in Virginia's Rural Communities: 2021–2022
Examines transportation barriers that impact healthcare access and provides actionable strategies to remove barriers. Discusses collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to change signage policy and install directional signs to a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Analyzes the subsequent impacts on access and cancer screening rates, as well as the importance of collaborating across community agencies.
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Michael O'Grady, Jinlei Zhao, Robert A. Winn
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116(2), 175-179
Date: 02/2026
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Examines transportation barriers that impact healthcare access and provides actionable strategies to remove barriers. Discusses collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to change signage policy and install directional signs to a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Analyzes the subsequent impacts on access and cancer screening rates, as well as the importance of collaborating across community agencies.
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Michael O'Grady, Jinlei Zhao, Robert A. Winn
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116(2), 175-179
Date: 02/2026
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Advancing Diagnostic Excellence in Rural Areas: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief
Summarizes proceedings from an October 2025 workshop discussing current diagnostic challenges in rural areas and identifying strategies for improvement. Covers topics including access to diagnosis, diagnosis-related health disparities, new technologies and innovations, workforce training, education, and support, and other innovations in diagnosis and patient-centered care.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Summarizes proceedings from an October 2025 workshop discussing current diagnostic challenges in rural areas and identifying strategies for improvement. Covers topics including access to diagnosis, diagnosis-related health disparities, new technologies and innovations, workforce training, education, and support, and other innovations in diagnosis and patient-centered care.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Merging Law and Medicine: Patient Attitudes About and Experiences with Social Needs Screening and Medical-Legal Partnerships in Primary Care
Analyzes survey results of 502 adults who had visited a primary care provider in 2023 to investigate patient experiences with social needs screening (SNS) and medical-legal partnerships (MLP). Discusses rural patients' comfort with MLPs as an option to address social needs.
Author(s): Jamelia D. Graham, Jennifer L. Kraschnewski, Sophia I. Allen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Analyzes survey results of 502 adults who had visited a primary care provider in 2023 to investigate patient experiences with social needs screening (SNS) and medical-legal partnerships (MLP). Discusses rural patients' comfort with MLPs as an option to address social needs.
Author(s): Jamelia D. Graham, Jennifer L. Kraschnewski, Sophia I. Allen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 2026
Date: 01/2026
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Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors by Rural and Urban Primary Care Practices
Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Results of a study comparing management of cardiovascular disease risk factors between rural and urban practices, using data from a national primary care registry from 2016-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural areas.
Author(s): Lars E. Peterson, Zachary J. Morgan
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Patient, Facility, and Community Determinants of Timely Follow up after Abnormal Screening Mammograms in Appalachia: A Multilevel Analysis
Examines the impact of community, patient, and facility characteristics on mammogram screening access, mammogram recall, and biopsy rates in 5 Appalachian states. Utilizes 2016-2018 Medicare claims data from breast imaging organizations to analyze characteristics of mammogram care, providing sociodemographic breakdowns and metro versus rural comparisons.
Author(s): Roger T. Anderson, Marianne M. Hillemeier, Jennifer A. Harvey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70104
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the impact of community, patient, and facility characteristics on mammogram screening access, mammogram recall, and biopsy rates in 5 Appalachian states. Utilizes 2016-2018 Medicare claims data from breast imaging organizations to analyze characteristics of mammogram care, providing sociodemographic breakdowns and metro versus rural comparisons.
Author(s): Roger T. Anderson, Marianne M. Hillemeier, Jennifer A. Harvey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70104
Date: 01/2026
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Geospatial Analysis of Breast Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Access to Screening in Rural and Appalachian Virginia
Assesses differences in breast cancer rates and mortality between Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties, and rural and nonrural counties in Virginia. Also explores whether availability of mammography is associated with differences. Features county-level Virginia maps, and statistics with breakdowns by Virginia counties, rural counties, and nonrural counties.
Author(s): Jennifer Osher, Caleb Brown, Phillip Nichols, Tariq Ayubi, Jeremy Powers
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 55-69
Date: 12/2025
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Assesses differences in breast cancer rates and mortality between Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties, and rural and nonrural counties in Virginia. Also explores whether availability of mammography is associated with differences. Features county-level Virginia maps, and statistics with breakdowns by Virginia counties, rural counties, and nonrural counties.
Author(s): Jennifer Osher, Caleb Brown, Phillip Nichols, Tariq Ayubi, Jeremy Powers
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 7(4), 55-69
Date: 12/2025
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Identifying the Unique Determinants Influencing Rural Families' Engagement with an Existing Tele-assessment Approach for Autism Identification: A Qualitative Study
Examines perceptions of tele-assessment for autism identification among caregivers of children with autism and community service providers in the rural Southeast. Identifies discussion themes and presents interview excerpts related to the validity, trustworthiness, feasibility, and privacy of tele-assessment for rural families.
Author(s): Liliana Wagner, Tori Foster, Kemberlee Bonnet, et al.
Citation: Autism, 29(6), 1458-1468
Date: 12/2025
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Examines perceptions of tele-assessment for autism identification among caregivers of children with autism and community service providers in the rural Southeast. Identifies discussion themes and presents interview excerpts related to the validity, trustworthiness, feasibility, and privacy of tele-assessment for rural families.
Author(s): Liliana Wagner, Tori Foster, Kemberlee Bonnet, et al.
Citation: Autism, 29(6), 1458-1468
Date: 12/2025
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Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis–Associated Deaths — United States, 2020–2023
Reports on deaths associated with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling coal mine dust. Includes data by industry and occupation, with most deaths occurring among those employed in the mining industry, a largely rural industry. Discusses the need for comprehensive prevention and screening.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(41), 627-633
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on deaths associated with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling coal mine dust. Includes data by industry and occupation, with most deaths occurring among those employed in the mining industry, a largely rural industry. Discusses the need for comprehensive prevention and screening.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(41), 627-633
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Bone Density Scan (DEXA) Utilization Among Women Without Diagnosed Osteoporosis Aged 50 and Older in the United States, 2022
Statistical brief examining likelihood of having ever received low bone density screening (DEXA) among women aged 50 and older without a diagnosis of osteoporosis. See Figure 7 for a comparison between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Terceira A. Berdahl
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief examining likelihood of having ever received low bone density screening (DEXA) among women aged 50 and older without a diagnosis of osteoporosis. See Figure 7 for a comparison between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Terceira A. Berdahl
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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