Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health screening
When Policy Exists but Practice Fails: Rethinking Cognitive Screening as a Public Health Delivery Problem
An essay that discusses gaps in early dementia detection and the related impact of public health delivery constraints in rural communities. Examines policy efforts and state-level examples to improve dementia care.
Author(s): Brian Kim
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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An essay that discusses gaps in early dementia detection and the related impact of public health delivery constraints in rural communities. Examines policy efforts and state-level examples to improve dementia care.
Author(s): Brian Kim
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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The Need for Community-Based Multimodal Screening for Chronic Disease and Cancer in Rural Kansas
Discusses how the development of community-based, multimodal screening infrastructure can address the high prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases in rural Kansas by improving access to preventive services and effectively addressing clustered chronic health conditions.
Author(s): Jordan A. Neely, Jerah R. Schmidt, Elham S. Ziaei, et al.
Citation: International Journal of General Medicine, 19, 613943
Date: 06/2026
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Discusses how the development of community-based, multimodal screening infrastructure can address the high prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases in rural Kansas by improving access to preventive services and effectively addressing clustered chronic health conditions.
Author(s): Jordan A. Neely, Jerah R. Schmidt, Elham S. Ziaei, et al.
Citation: International Journal of General Medicine, 19, 613943
Date: 06/2026
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Michigan - Improving Diabetic Eye Exam Rates: A Practical Guide for Rural Health Clinics
A guidebook for Rural Health Centers (RHCs) in Michigan to screen and provide quality care for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Provides recommendations for DR screening, workflow, referral to eye care providers, and reducing barriers in rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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A guidebook for Rural Health Centers (RHCs) in Michigan to screen and provide quality care for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Provides recommendations for DR screening, workflow, referral to eye care providers, and reducing barriers in rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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Concordance Between Social Needs Screening and Availability of Associated Programs in US Hospitals
Examines the extent to which hospitals screen patients for social needs by analyzing data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Explores the alignment between hospitals that screen for social needs and the availability of programs to address those needs. Compares data on social needs screening and corresponding programs at hospitals by rural and urban location, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, region, ownership, and participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs).
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Keith Mueller, Whitney E. Zahnd
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines the extent to which hospitals screen patients for social needs by analyzing data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Explores the alignment between hospitals that screen for social needs and the availability of programs to address those needs. Compares data on social needs screening and corresponding programs at hospitals by rural and urban location, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, region, ownership, and participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs).
Author(s): Khyathi Gadag, Keith Mueller, Whitney E. Zahnd
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Understanding Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation for At-Home COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations During the Pandemic
Evaluates how access to COVID-19 testing barriers, facilitators, and motivations varied among underserved adults in Utah via interviews with 19 low-income Utahns. Includes rural and urban data comparisons and interview excerpts.
Author(s): Joni H. Pierce, Peter Taber, Leticia Stevens, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), ibag033
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates how access to COVID-19 testing barriers, facilitators, and motivations varied among underserved adults in Utah via interviews with 19 low-income Utahns. Includes rural and urban data comparisons and interview excerpts.
Author(s): Joni H. Pierce, Peter Taber, Leticia Stevens, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), ibag033
Date: 06/2026
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Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening among Alaska Native Peoples Living in Remote Areas of Alaska: A Multitarget Stool DNA Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Presents a study evaluating the efficacy of different colorectal cancer screening (CRC) outreach approaches to address high CRC rates among Alaska Native communities in remote areas of Alaska. Compares the outcomes of high-intensity outreach and medium-intensity outreach on patients' likelihood of participating in a CRC screening either by multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) or colonoscopy.
Author(s): Diana Redwood, Christie Flanagan, Lauren Jeffries, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27(1), 303
Date: 05/2026
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Presents a study evaluating the efficacy of different colorectal cancer screening (CRC) outreach approaches to address high CRC rates among Alaska Native communities in remote areas of Alaska. Compares the outcomes of high-intensity outreach and medium-intensity outreach on patients' likelihood of participating in a CRC screening either by multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) or colonoscopy.
Author(s): Diana Redwood, Christie Flanagan, Lauren Jeffries, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27(1), 303
Date: 05/2026
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From Conversation to Completion: Identifying Conversation Elements to Support Effective Shared Decision-Making for Lung Cancer Screening in Rural Primary Care
Evaluates how aspects of the shared decision-making (SDM) process influence lung cancer screening behaviors and attitudes among rural adults via a survey of 173 rural Appalachian West Virginians. Discusses information sources, provider conversation elements, topics discussed, practical considerations, and more.
Author(s): Dannell Boatman, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Lesley Cottrell, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 255
Date: 05/2026
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Evaluates how aspects of the shared decision-making (SDM) process influence lung cancer screening behaviors and attitudes among rural adults via a survey of 173 rural Appalachian West Virginians. Discusses information sources, provider conversation elements, topics discussed, practical considerations, and more.
Author(s): Dannell Boatman, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Lesley Cottrell, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 255
Date: 05/2026
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Survivor Views on Rural Health
Presents findings from a survey of rural, urban, and suburban cancer patients and survivors on healthcare affordability, medical debt, provider access, cancer screening, patient navigation services, and other topics related to access to care.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
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Presents findings from a survey of rural, urban, and suburban cancer patients and survivors on healthcare affordability, medical debt, provider access, cancer screening, patient navigation services, and other topics related to access to care.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
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Dementia Diagnostic Deserts: Workforce and Geographic Inequities in the Diagnostic Pathway for Cognitive Impairment
Describes the "Triple Disadvantage Zones" or the places where rurality, Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas, and social deprivation converge to create a dementia diagnostic desert resulting in both delayed diagnosis and over-testing. Discusses training gaps for nurse practitioners and physician assistants as well as policy measures to mitigate diagnosis errors.
Author(s): Zhijing Xu, Ying Xue, Yaguang Zheng, Bei Wu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(5)
Date: 05/2026
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Describes the "Triple Disadvantage Zones" or the places where rurality, Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas, and social deprivation converge to create a dementia diagnostic desert resulting in both delayed diagnosis and over-testing. Discusses training gaps for nurse practitioners and physician assistants as well as policy measures to mitigate diagnosis errors.
Author(s): Zhijing Xu, Ying Xue, Yaguang Zheng, Bei Wu
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(5)
Date: 05/2026
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A Look at New or Expanded Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships from 2025: Findings from A Survey of State Medicaid Programs
Identifies themes from a survey of state Medicaid directors regarding new or expanded public health initiatives that were implemented in fiscal year (FY) 2025 or planned for FY 2026. Summarizes initiatives related to maternal and child health, child and youth mental health, opioid use disorder (OUD), lead screening, infectious disease, and workforce. Describes rural-related initiatives and examples throughout.
Author(s): Alisha Rao, Anna Mudumala, Elizabeth Hinton, Cory Caldwell
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Identifies themes from a survey of state Medicaid directors regarding new or expanded public health initiatives that were implemented in fiscal year (FY) 2025 or planned for FY 2026. Summarizes initiatives related to maternal and child health, child and youth mental health, opioid use disorder (OUD), lead screening, infectious disease, and workforce. Describes rural-related initiatives and examples throughout.
Author(s): Alisha Rao, Anna Mudumala, Elizabeth Hinton, Cory Caldwell
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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