Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Rural–Urban Variability in Home and Community-Based Service Use Among Veterans
Evaluates rural and urban differences in home and community-based services (HCBS) use among more than 6 million veterans. Includes analysis of variance in use by rural status of Veterans Administration medical centers, as well as rural and urban comparisons of the study population's demographics and comorbidities.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Daniel Hackert, Frank DeVone, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates rural and urban differences in home and community-based services (HCBS) use among more than 6 million veterans. Includes analysis of variance in use by rural status of Veterans Administration medical centers, as well as rural and urban comparisons of the study population's demographics and comorbidities.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Daniel Hackert, Frank DeVone, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026
Date: 06/2026
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"This Is What I Acquired in the Military, I Want to Keep It at the VA": Healthcare Perspectives and Preferences among Rural American Indian/Alaska Native Women Veterans
Explores ways to improve healthcare access and outcomes for rural American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women veterans. Bases findings of listening sessions with 43 AI/AN veteran women on their experiences accessing healthcare from both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Author(s): Mary K. Good, Daniel D. Ball, B. Josea Kramer, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70177
Date: 06/2026
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Explores ways to improve healthcare access and outcomes for rural American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women veterans. Bases findings of listening sessions with 43 AI/AN veteran women on their experiences accessing healthcare from both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Author(s): Mary K. Good, Daniel D. Ball, B. Josea Kramer, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70177
Date: 06/2026
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Feasibility and Acceptability of a Rural Palliative Care Intervention for Patients with Heart Failure (RuPAL-HF)
Evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative palliative care model among 13 patients with heart failure receiving care at a primary care clinic in rural Maine. Covers topics including staff training outcomes, telehealth use, and the facilitators of end-of-life conversations, planning documents, and more.
Author(s): Francesca X. Piccolo, Eric C. Anderson, Hanna Gutow, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 25, 245
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative palliative care model among 13 patients with heart failure receiving care at a primary care clinic in rural Maine. Covers topics including staff training outcomes, telehealth use, and the facilitators of end-of-life conversations, planning documents, and more.
Author(s): Francesca X. Piccolo, Eric C. Anderson, Hanna Gutow, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 25, 245
Date: 06/2026
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Vermont Annual Suicide Data Report: Data Through 2025
Presents an overview of suicide in Vermont, exploring trends, risk factors, and the burden of suicide on healthcare systems and communities. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Presents an overview of suicide in Vermont, exploring trends, risk factors, and the burden of suicide on healthcare systems and communities. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Drug Overdose Deaths: South Carolina, 2024
Reports drug overdose deaths for South Carolina in 2024 using state vital statistics data. Includes statistics on the demographics of drug-related mortality, unintentional and intentional deaths, drug categories, and selected drugs. Includes statistics and county-level maps showing totals, rates, and change over time.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Department of Public Health
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Reports drug overdose deaths for South Carolina in 2024 using state vital statistics data. Includes statistics on the demographics of drug-related mortality, unintentional and intentional deaths, drug categories, and selected drugs. Includes statistics and county-level maps showing totals, rates, and change over time.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Department of Public Health
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No "Golden Hour" in Alaska: Characteristics and Implications of Medevac-Centered Emergency Care
Examines the usage of air medical ambulances (medevacs) in remote, tribally administered village clinics in Northwest Alaska to provide physician emergency medical care. Utilizes 2020-2024 data from 11 Alaskan village clinics and 1,579 medevacs and analyzes flight time, decision time, and ground time. Discusses the importance of timely emergency care for rural patients.
Author(s): Brian Rice, Chelsea Williams, Cindy Y. Chang, et al.
Citation: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 27(4)
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the usage of air medical ambulances (medevacs) in remote, tribally administered village clinics in Northwest Alaska to provide physician emergency medical care. Utilizes 2020-2024 data from 11 Alaskan village clinics and 1,579 medevacs and analyzes flight time, decision time, and ground time. Discusses the importance of timely emergency care for rural patients.
Author(s): Brian Rice, Chelsea Williams, Cindy Y. Chang, et al.
Citation: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 27(4)
Date: 06/2026
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Veterans Affairs Clinical Resource Hub Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans
Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 2026
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 2026
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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Sex Differences in Rural Prehospital ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care
Compares prehospital treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by sex in rural populations using 2016-2020 STEMI registry data from a rural cohort in North Carolina. Includes data breakdowns by clinical characteristics.
Author(s): Michael W. Supples, Randy S. Carpenter, Nicklaus P. Ashburn, et al.
Citation: Emergency Medicine Journal, 43(8), 486-492
Date: 06/2026
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Compares prehospital treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by sex in rural populations using 2016-2020 STEMI registry data from a rural cohort in North Carolina. Includes data breakdowns by clinical characteristics.
Author(s): Michael W. Supples, Randy S. Carpenter, Nicklaus P. Ashburn, et al.
Citation: Emergency Medicine Journal, 43(8), 486-492
Date: 06/2026
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Severe Mental Health Conditions, Fentanyl Injection, and Severe Substance Use Disorders Are Associated with Violent Victimization among Rural Appalachian Adults Who Inject Drugs
Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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