Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
VA Versus Non-VA Quality of Care: A Living Systematic Review
Presents a review of healthcare quality for veterans in VA and non-VA settings. Analyzes 52 studies of non-surgical care and 24 studies of surgical care. Highlights studies focusing on rural veterans and details rural veterans' reported satisfaction with the care they received.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Paul Shekelle, Melinda Maggard-Gibbons, Mariah Blegen, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Presents a review of healthcare quality for veterans in VA and non-VA settings. Analyzes 52 studies of non-surgical care and 24 studies of surgical care. Highlights studies focusing on rural veterans and details rural veterans' reported satisfaction with the care they received.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Paul Shekelle, Melinda Maggard-Gibbons, Mariah Blegen, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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The Role of Telehealth in Sepsis Care in Rural Emergency Departments: A Qualitative Study of Emergency Department Sepsis Telehealth User Perspectives
Explores rural emergency department staff use of and perspectives on provider-to-provider telehealth (tele-ED) use for rural patients with sepsis, using data from interviews with 27 hub physicians, rural ED providers, and nurses in the Upper Midwest. Discusses topics related to rural barriers and facilitators of tele-ED use, impacts on quality of care, staff and facility-level factors, and more.
Author(s): Nicholas M. Mohr, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, Brian M. Fuller, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 20(4), e0321299
Date: 04/2025
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Explores rural emergency department staff use of and perspectives on provider-to-provider telehealth (tele-ED) use for rural patients with sepsis, using data from interviews with 27 hub physicians, rural ED providers, and nurses in the Upper Midwest. Discusses topics related to rural barriers and facilitators of tele-ED use, impacts on quality of care, staff and facility-level factors, and more.
Author(s): Nicholas M. Mohr, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, Brian M. Fuller, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 20(4), e0321299
Date: 04/2025
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Rebuilding Maternal Health Access in Western North Carolina: Addressing Critical Gaps Amplified by Hurricane Helene
Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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Perceived Contributors to Job Quality and Retention at Home Care Cooperatives
Analyzes interviews with 32 home care workers in 5 home care cooperatives to identify perceived factors contributing to low workforce turnover and high job quality. Factors include workplace control, community support, respect, and compensation. Home care cooperatives interviewed include 1 rural cooperative.
Author(s): Geoffrey M. Gusoff, Miguel A. Cuevas, Catherine Sarkisian, et al
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(4)
Date: 04/2025
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Analyzes interviews with 32 home care workers in 5 home care cooperatives to identify perceived factors contributing to low workforce turnover and high job quality. Factors include workplace control, community support, respect, and compensation. Home care cooperatives interviewed include 1 rural cooperative.
Author(s): Geoffrey M. Gusoff, Miguel A. Cuevas, Catherine Sarkisian, et al
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(4)
Date: 04/2025
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Impact of Recent Methamphetamine Use on Treatment Outcomes Among Individuals Initiating Medications for Opioid Use Disorders in Rural Treatment Settings: A 1-Year Retrospective Cohort Study
Explores the predictive role that methamphetamine urinalysis (UA) results in rural MOUD treatment intake has on methamphetamine and opioid use over time. Discusses the rise of co-use of opioids and methamphetamine and explores indicators for clinicians providing MOUD treatment.
Author(s): Leslie A Kenefick, Lisa Khairy, Luke Hall, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(2), 9536
Date: 04/2025
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Explores the predictive role that methamphetamine urinalysis (UA) results in rural MOUD treatment intake has on methamphetamine and opioid use over time. Discusses the rise of co-use of opioids and methamphetamine and explores indicators for clinicians providing MOUD treatment.
Author(s): Leslie A Kenefick, Lisa Khairy, Luke Hall, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(2), 9536
Date: 04/2025
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Promoting the Health of Migrant Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Rural Minnesota Using a Whole-Person Health Approach: A Pilot Project
Discusses the efficacy of a whole-health assessment of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) at identifying community strengths and challenges pertaining to physical, emotional, social, and economic health. Highlights the University of Minnesota comprehensive whole-health assessment criteria and details the implementation, uptake, and results.
Author(s): Shahidali Jaffer, Robin Austin, Jonathan D. Kirsch
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1518686
Date: 04/2025
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Discusses the efficacy of a whole-health assessment of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) at identifying community strengths and challenges pertaining to physical, emotional, social, and economic health. Highlights the University of Minnesota comprehensive whole-health assessment criteria and details the implementation, uptake, and results.
Author(s): Shahidali Jaffer, Robin Austin, Jonathan D. Kirsch
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1518686
Date: 04/2025
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Job Assessments and the Anticipated Retention of Behavioral Health Clinicians Working in U.S. Health Professional Shortage Areas
Examines perspectives of behavioral health clinicians working in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (mHPSAs) related to their anticipated retention in an mHPSA. Examines 2016-2023 survey feedback from 2,587 respondents regarding their anticipated retention, with data breakdowns according to demographics, professional characteristics, education debt, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, Lisa de Saxe Zerden, Thomas R. Konrad, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 592
Date: 04/2025
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Examines perspectives of behavioral health clinicians working in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (mHPSAs) related to their anticipated retention in an mHPSA. Examines 2016-2023 survey feedback from 2,587 respondents regarding their anticipated retention, with data breakdowns according to demographics, professional characteristics, education debt, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, Lisa de Saxe Zerden, Thomas R. Konrad, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 592
Date: 04/2025
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Severe Maternal Morbidity in Tennessee, 2018-2022
Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Focuses on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurring during hospitalizations for childbirth in Tennessee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics including SMM rates by maternal residence, with breakdowns by urban, urban adjacent, and rural counties.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Rural Emergency Medical Services Perspectives on Improving Acute Stroke Care: A Qualitative Study
Examines barriers and facilitators to timely and high-quality acute stroke care in rural communities via interviews with 12 rural EMS professionals in North Carolina. Discusses topics including comprehensive stroke assessment, destination decision protocols, communication between EMS and hospital staff, transport distances, limited staffing, and more.
Author(s): Emma N. Johnson, Mahesh V. Pinapaka, Mary E. Grewe, et al.
Citation: Prehospital Emergency Care, 29(8), 1123–1131
Date: 04/2025
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Examines barriers and facilitators to timely and high-quality acute stroke care in rural communities via interviews with 12 rural EMS professionals in North Carolina. Discusses topics including comprehensive stroke assessment, destination decision protocols, communication between EMS and hospital staff, transport distances, limited staffing, and more.
Author(s): Emma N. Johnson, Mahesh V. Pinapaka, Mary E. Grewe, et al.
Citation: Prehospital Emergency Care, 29(8), 1123–1131
Date: 04/2025
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Mapping Maternity Care Deserts: Driving Distance and Health Outcomes in North Carolina
Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
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