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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Overview of U.S. Hospital Stays in 2016: Variation by Geographic Region
Examines hospital inpatient stays in 2016 in the nine U.S. Census divisions. Includes data by location of patient residence for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): William J. Freeman, Audrey J. Weiss, Kevin C. Heslin
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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How Counties Can Use Evidence-Based Policymaking to Achieve Better Outcomes
Examines county-level efforts to promote evidence-based policymaking and looks at ways in which counties engage in this work. Also identifies ways that counties support and sustain their success. Includes examples of several behavioral health initiatives.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organizations: MacArthur Foundation, National Association of Counties, Pew
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Public Health and Other Related Provisions in P.L 115-271, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act
Summarizes Title VII and VIII provisions in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). Addresses provisions affecting access to opioid misuse treatment and providers, data collection, child welfare, the Department of Justice, substance use prevention, and more. Sections highlighting rural authorize grants for first responder training, data collection on adverse childhood experiences, recovery support services, and reauthorization of the State and Tribal Response to the Opioid Abuse Crisis grant program with technical assistance for rural and underserved communities.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Buprenorphine and the Opioid Crisis: A Primer for Congress
Discusses the use of buprenorphine in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) of opioid addiction. Report addresses questions for U.S. lawmakers to craft opioid treatment policy. Looks at the effectiveness, demand, and access of buprenorphine.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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The Special Registration for Telemedicine: In Brief
Describes changes to the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) authorizing special registration for telemedicine to increase access to healthcare providers that can prescribe controlled substances using telemedicine, with the goal of helping address the opioid crisis and shortage of mental health providers. Outlines the seven categories for the practice of telemedicine under the authority of the CSA. The Drug Enforcement Administration plans to publish the related proposed rule to finalize the registration process and procedures.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Emergency Department Utilization by Native American Children
Examines pediatric emergency department (ED) utilization in Native American (NA) populations in urban and rural areas. Analyzes 8,294 visits by 5,275 NA patients and 44,503 visits by 33,945 White patients across 6 EDs between 2011-2012 to observe health disparities in different areas and populations. Includes data breakdowns of ED patient demographics and characteristics according to rural, mid-size urban, and large urban location.
Author(s): Heather G. Zook, Anupam B. Kharbanda, Susan E. Puumala, et al.
Citation: Pediatric Emergency Care, 34(11), 802-809
Date: 11/2018
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Rural-Urban Differences in Cancer Incidence and Trends in the United States
Examines the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries' public use dataset to compare rural and urban population-based cancer incidence rates from 2009-2013 and trends from 1995-2013. Explores factors associated with rural cancer disparities, including demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic characteristics as well as exposure to carcinogens, like tobacco and HPV.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Aimee S. James, Wiley D. Jenkins, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 27(11), 1265-1274
Date: 11/2018
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Factors Associated with Depression Detection in a New Hampshire Mental Health Outreach Program
Presents a study on the accuracy of depression detection in older adults in New Hampshire. Compares a number of demographic factors, such as age, sex, and rural status, among others.
Author(s): Angela R. Ghesquiere, Renée Pepin, Jennifer Kinsey, et al.
Citation: Aging and Mental Health, 22(11), 1471-1476
Date: 11/2018
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Talking about Hepatitis C: FAQs from Young Adults Who Inject Drugs
Highlights some common questions posed by rural young adults at high risk of hepatitis C (HCV) infection due to injectable drug use. Breaks down demographic data by sex and education among other measures.
Author(s): Lauren L. Knight, Katherine Wagner, Yuridia Leyva, et al.
Citation: Health Promotion Practice, 19(6), 815-822
Date: 11/2018
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Practice Rurality of Family Physicians Enrolled in a Practice Transformation Network
An analysis of the enrollment of small and rural practices in the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI), supporting nationwide, collaborative and peer-based learning, to determine if a greater proportion of rural practices are enrolled in Practice Transformation Networks (PTNs) than are found among non-enrolled practices. In addition, the analysis includes the enrollment of family physicians across states and PTNs. Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA, version 2.0) codes were used to determine rurality. TCPI enrollment variation within rural practices is discussed.
Author(s): Robert L. Phillips, Elizabeth M. Bishop, Lars E. Peterson, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 31(6), 952-956
Date: 11/2018
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