Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities
A Chartbook on the Characteristics and Needs of Frontier Critical Access Hospitals
Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Respiratory Virus Season
Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Rural/Urban Differences among American Indian/Alaska Native Peoples in Health Care Access and Outcomes, 2019–2023
Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 51, 232-239
Date: 04/2026
view details
Compares health outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) rural and urban residents using 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. Discusses the impact of various sociodemographic factors and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on study findings.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Hailey A. Baker, Julia D. Interrante, Kyle X. Hill, Melissa L. Walls
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 51, 232-239
Date: 04/2026
view details
Federal Credit Assistance and Grant Programs for Rural Businesses
Provides an overview of selected federal credit assistance and grant programs that support rural businesses. Covers programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), as well as the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Provides an overview of selected federal credit assistance and grant programs that support rural businesses. Covers programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), as well as the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
National Health Service Corps Site Reference Guide
Provides clarification for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites regarding eligibility requirements, qualification factors, compliance, roles and responsibilities, and other factors for becoming an NHSC approved site. Acts as a supplemental resource to the information provided in the online NHSC Site Application.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
view details
Provides clarification for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites regarding eligibility requirements, qualification factors, compliance, roles and responsibilities, and other factors for becoming an NHSC approved site. Acts as a supplemental resource to the information provided in the online NHSC Site Application.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
view details
Assessing Disruption Impact on Quality Improvement Activities Designed to Improve HPV Vaccination in Rural Primary Care
Assesses the types and impacts of disruptions to clinical practice on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination quality improvement projects in rural primary care clinics in Oregon. Includes quantitative findings for 41 clinics as well as qualitative findings for 8 of those clinics. Discusses staffing and organization structures, COVID-19, and electronic health record systems, noting factors driving resilience during disruption.
Author(s): Chrystal Barnes, NithyaPriya Ramalingam, Steele Valenzuela, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 03/2026
view details
Assesses the types and impacts of disruptions to clinical practice on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination quality improvement projects in rural primary care clinics in Oregon. Includes quantitative findings for 41 clinics as well as qualitative findings for 8 of those clinics. Discusses staffing and organization structures, COVID-19, and electronic health record systems, noting factors driving resilience during disruption.
Author(s): Chrystal Barnes, NithyaPriya Ramalingam, Steele Valenzuela, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 03/2026
view details
Michigan Rural Maternal Health Environmental Scan: Final Report
Provides an overview of maternal health in rural Michigan. Includes information on challenges, innovations, and policy opportunities in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs); hospital and emergency obstetric readiness; Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) initiatives; and supporting access to maternal healthcare.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
view details
Provides an overview of maternal health in rural Michigan. Includes information on challenges, innovations, and policy opportunities in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs); hospital and emergency obstetric readiness; Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) initiatives; and supporting access to maternal healthcare.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
view details
HEARTLAND Protocol: A Tiered Clinical Implementation Toolkit for Primary Care-Led Heart Failure Management in Rural and Resource-Limited Settings
Presents a study on the efficacy of the HEARTLAND (Heart failure Evidence-based Access in Rural Treatment, Linking Advanced Network Delivery) protocol at managing heart failure (HF) in rural and low-resourced healthcare settings. Highlights the protocol's structure and the process by which it evaluates patient HF risk, establishes monitoring, and ensures continuity of care.
Author(s): Vicky Muller Ferreira
Citation: Cureus, 18(3), e104817
Date: 03/2026
view details
Presents a study on the efficacy of the HEARTLAND (Heart failure Evidence-based Access in Rural Treatment, Linking Advanced Network Delivery) protocol at managing heart failure (HF) in rural and low-resourced healthcare settings. Highlights the protocol's structure and the process by which it evaluates patient HF risk, establishes monitoring, and ensures continuity of care.
Author(s): Vicky Muller Ferreira
Citation: Cureus, 18(3), e104817
Date: 03/2026
view details
Expanding Oral Health Access and Equity: The Impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers
Presents a literature review aiming to understand the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing access to oral healthcare. Highlights different delivery methods, such as telehealth, oral health integration, and school-based and mobile health center programs. Discusses access barriers, such as rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Irene Hilton, Candace L. H. Owen, Rachel Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 48-53
Date: 03/2026
view details
Presents a literature review aiming to understand the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing access to oral healthcare. Highlights different delivery methods, such as telehealth, oral health integration, and school-based and mobile health center programs. Discusses access barriers, such as rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Irene Hilton, Candace L. H. Owen, Rachel Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 48-53
Date: 03/2026
view details
Sharing Resources and Working Together: The Rural Collaborative
Provides an overview of the Rural Collaborative, a network of 31 rural public hospitals across Washington state. Describes how the network helps participating hospitals maintain their independence by sharing resources and working together on shared services, peer learning, operational support, and preferred pricing. Discusses the network's history and members, network operations and priorities, and future plans.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
Provides an overview of the Rural Collaborative, a network of 31 rural public hospitals across Washington state. Describes how the network helps participating hospitals maintain their independence by sharing resources and working together on shared services, peer learning, operational support, and preferred pricing. Discusses the network's history and members, network operations and priorities, and future plans.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details