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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

South Dakota Vital Statistics Report: A State and County Comparison of Leading Health Indicators, 2023
Report outlines South Dakota's vital statistics by health indicators and by county. Highlights markers of health and wellness, such as natality, infant mortality, and infectious disease, among other measures. Breaks down data by county.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Differential Effects of a Social Work Staffing Intervention on Social Work Access Among Rural and Highly Rural Veterans: A Cohort Study
Presents a study on the efficacy of a VA program to expand access of social work services to rural veterans. Draws data from VA sites that participated in the program from October 2016 to September 2021. Compares social worker utilization by rural and urban veterans and breaks down data by age and reason for visit, among other factors.
Author(s): Andrew N. Honken, Christopher W. Halladay, Lisa E. Wootton, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(S2), e14327
Date: 12/2024
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Effects of Rural Hospital Closures on Nurse Staffing Levels and Health Care Utilization at Nearby Hospitals
Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
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Improving Access to Buprenorphine for Rural Veterans in a Learning Health Care System
Describes the development of a implementation strategy to increase rural buprenorphine prescribing at U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare systems based on existing successful strategies in 6 rural VAs. Discusses clinical needs to support increased prescribing related to mentorship, consulting services, and practitioner education.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Katherine Mackey, Kim A. Kauzlarich, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(S2), e14346
Date: 12/2024
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Understanding the Impact of Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Cancer Control in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Study
Explores the perceptions of 23 healthcare providers on factors affecting rural patients' access to care and the associated impacts on providers' approach to cancer screening and prevention recommendations. Discusses the impact of both patient and provider trust on information-gathering and care coordination.
Author(s): Alee Lockman, Mariam Krikorian Atkinson, Keelin McGee, Tenille Oderwald, James McGee
Citation: SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 6, 100452
Date: 12/2024
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Oklahoma Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Care (Scores)
County-level map depicting Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores using Oklahoma State Department of Health data. Denotes low-income populations and geographic designations.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Examining the Impact of the Veterans Affairs Community Care Program on Mental Healthcare in Rural Veterans: A Qualitative Study
Presents a study on the impact of the VA's Community Care program on mental health treatment for rural veterans. Bases findings on interviews with VA and non-VA providers and administrators working in mental health treatment facilities in Norther New England.
Author(s): Lauren Kenneally, Natalie Riblet, Susan Stevens, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(2), e14405
Date: 11/2024
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Virginia Rural Hospital Report
Recommendations of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association Rural Health Task Force and administrative and legislative proposals to help improve access to care in rural Virginia. Features statistics on admissions, births, beds, and full-time employees, and a county-level map showing locations of rural hospitals.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
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Urban and Rural Differences in the Efficacy of a Mobile Health Depression Treatment for Young Adults
Examines the efficacy of a randomized clinical trial of a mobile health (mHealth) depression treatment in 103 young adults ages 18-25 across the U.S. Explores whether treatment efficacy differed by rural and urban residence.
Author(s): Jeremy Mennis, J. Douglas Coatsworth, Michael Russell, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(12), 1572
Date: 11/2024
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Results of a Systemic Study of Pedestrian Safety in Tribal Areas
Webinar recording in which a panel discusses the results of A Systemic Safety Study of Pedestrians in Tribal Areas. Transcript included below description.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Rural Road Safety
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