Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
From Closure to Comeback: A Rural ICU Is Reborn
A podcast episode examining how rural hospitals can utilize technology and partnerships to provide local healthcare access to residents. Provides a discussion between CEOs of hospitals focusing on the reopening of an intensive care unit (ICU) at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH).
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Marc Boom, Mark Boucot
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast episode examining how rural hospitals can utilize technology and partnerships to provide local healthcare access to residents. Provides a discussion between CEOs of hospitals focusing on the reopening of an intensive care unit (ICU) at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH).
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Marc Boom, Mark Boucot
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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West Virginia Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in West Virginia in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in West Virginia in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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State of North Carolina's Mental Health and Substance Use Services Workforce: Need, Supply, and Distribution Landscape Assessment
Provides an overview on need, supply, and distribution of behavioral health professionals in North Carolina. Includes county-level maps and data on workforce and behavioral health issues.
Author(s): Brianna Lombardi, Jennifer Headley, Monica P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Provides an overview on need, supply, and distribution of behavioral health professionals in North Carolina. Includes county-level maps and data on workforce and behavioral health issues.
Author(s): Brianna Lombardi, Jennifer Headley, Monica P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Exploring Maternal Mental Health Conditions and Urban-Rural Disparities in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in South Carolina: A Fairlie Decomposition Approach
Examines the impact of maternal mental health on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in rural and urban areas of South Carolina. Utilizes data from 270,000 mothers with HDP to analyze maternal mental health conditions according to rural versus urban location, demographic variables, quality of prenatal care, mother's health condition, and more.
Author(s): Manan Roy, Maggie Sugg, Jennifer Runkle
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 30, 452-463
Date: 03/2026
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Examines the impact of maternal mental health on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in rural and urban areas of South Carolina. Utilizes data from 270,000 mothers with HDP to analyze maternal mental health conditions according to rural versus urban location, demographic variables, quality of prenatal care, mother's health condition, and more.
Author(s): Manan Roy, Maggie Sugg, Jennifer Runkle
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 30, 452-463
Date: 03/2026
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Assessing Environmental, Nutritional, and Genetic Factors for Otitis Media-Related Hearing Loss in Rural Alaska Native Children
Highlights a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Norton Sound region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Alyssa Platt, Rolvix H Patterson, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 404-416
Date: 03/2026
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Highlights a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Norton Sound region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Alyssa Platt, Rolvix H Patterson, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 404-416
Date: 03/2026
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Understanding Risk Factors for Otitis Media in Rural Alaska Native Children: A Cohort Study
Presents a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Bering Strait region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Rolvix H Patterson, Susan D Emmett, Kelli L Scheinman, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 417-428
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Bering Strait region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Rolvix H Patterson, Susan D Emmett, Kelli L Scheinman, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 417-428
Date: 03/2026
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Optimizing Obstetric Life Support Training in Rural Healthcare Settings in New England: Protocol for a Multisite Prospective Study
Examines the simulation curriculum Obstetric Life Support (OBLS) that focuses on recognition, prevention, and management of maternal medical emergencies. Analyzes implementation of an adapted OBLS curriculum made for rural communities in New England. Discusses barriers and facilitators of adapting the program for rural prehospital and hospital-based healthcare workers (HCWs).
Author(s): Shayna D Cunningham, Rogie Royce Carandang, W. Andy Lowe, et al.
Citation: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 26, 219
Date: 02/2026
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Examines the simulation curriculum Obstetric Life Support (OBLS) that focuses on recognition, prevention, and management of maternal medical emergencies. Analyzes implementation of an adapted OBLS curriculum made for rural communities in New England. Discusses barriers and facilitators of adapting the program for rural prehospital and hospital-based healthcare workers (HCWs).
Author(s): Shayna D Cunningham, Rogie Royce Carandang, W. Andy Lowe, et al.
Citation: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 26, 219
Date: 02/2026
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Designing Communication Strategies to Increase Rural Participation in Clinical Trials using the Health Belief Model and Strategic Communication
Evaluates communication strategies for increasing participation in clinical trials among people in rural areas using health beliefs survey data drawn from 402 West Virginians. Discusses how rural and Appalachian culture, access to care, personal beliefs, and more influence clinical trial utilization.
Author(s): Dannell Boatman, Stephenie Kennedy-Rea, Jay Mason, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 50, 101610
Date: 02/2026
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Evaluates communication strategies for increasing participation in clinical trials among people in rural areas using health beliefs survey data drawn from 402 West Virginians. Discusses how rural and Appalachian culture, access to care, personal beliefs, and more influence clinical trial utilization.
Author(s): Dannell Boatman, Stephenie Kennedy-Rea, Jay Mason, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 50, 101610
Date: 02/2026
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Virginia's Dentistry Workforce: 2025
An overview of the dentistry workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2025 Dentistry Survey. Features statistics including the number of dentists in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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An overview of the dentistry workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2025 Dentistry Survey. Features statistics including the number of dentists in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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Virginia's Dental Hygienist Workforce: 2025
An overview of the Virginia dental hygienist workforce based on data from the 2025 Dental Hygienist Workforce Survey. Features statistics on the number of dental hygienists working in rural Virginia as well as how many grew up in rural areas of Virginia.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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An overview of the Virginia dental hygienist workforce based on data from the 2025 Dental Hygienist Workforce Survey. Features statistics on the number of dental hygienists working in rural Virginia as well as how many grew up in rural areas of Virginia.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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