Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce shortage designations
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 Geographic Disparities Analysis Between Standard of Care and Clinical Trial CAR-T Patients in Kansas
Examines demographic and geographic disparities in cancer care access within clinical trials at the University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) as well as standard-of-care (SOC) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy at the University of Kansas Health System (TUKHS). Provides data breakdowns according to treatment type, demographics, rural versus urban location, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation, and distance to the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). Discusses the importance of access to (CAR)-T cell therapy and need for targeted outreach in rural and HPSA-designated areas.
Author(s): Sam Pepper, Aliya Rashid, Carine Tabak, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 15(5), e71974
Date: 05/2026
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Examines demographic and geographic disparities in cancer care access within clinical trials at the University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) as well as standard-of-care (SOC) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy at the University of Kansas Health System (TUKHS). Provides data breakdowns according to treatment type, demographics, rural versus urban location, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation, and distance to the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). Discusses the importance of access to (CAR)-T cell therapy and need for targeted outreach in rural and HPSA-designated areas.
Author(s): Sam Pepper, Aliya Rashid, Carine Tabak, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 15(5), e71974
Date: 05/2026
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Access to and Provision of Child and Youth Behavioral Health Services in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Compiles findings from 9 reports on youth behavioral health in the rural U.S. Describes prevalence of behavioral health conditions, the youth behavioral health workforce, behavioral health licensure and reimbursement policy, and provision of youth behavioral health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by 7 levels of population density.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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South Dakota Medically Underserved Areas/Populations
County-level South Dakota map showing medically underserved communities, areas, and populations.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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County-level South Dakota map showing medically underserved communities, areas, and populations.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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South Dakota Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Medical Care
South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic primary medical care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic primary medical care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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South Dakota Health Professional Shortage Areas: Mental Healthcare
South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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South Dakota Health Professional Shortage Areas: Dental Healthcare
County-level South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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County-level South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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County-Level Differences in Health Professional Shortage Areas by Rurality, Age, and Disability Status
Examines differences in healthcare access among working-age and older adults, by rurality and disability status. Features statistics including percents of counties qualifying as primary care, mental health, or dental Heath Professional Shortage Areas, with breakdowns by disability quartile and rural or urban location.
Author(s): Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, Mariana Tuttle, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Examines differences in healthcare access among working-age and older adults, by rurality and disability status. Features statistics including percents of counties qualifying as primary care, mental health, or dental Heath Professional Shortage Areas, with breakdowns by disability quartile and rural or urban location.
Author(s): Andrew Abram, Alexis Swendener, Mariana Tuttle, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Care
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan primary care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan primary care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Primary Care HPSA Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan primary care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan primary care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Primary Care HPSA Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Health Professional Shortage Areas: Dental Care
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan dental care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan dental care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Dental Health HPSA Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan dental care HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan dental care HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Dental Health HPSA Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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