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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Rural Public Health
Policy paper discussing the critical need for public health services to positively impact the current health issues contributing to health disparities in rural communities. Offers recommendations to address the lack of adequate public health services by developing partnerships, supporting public health education and training, and strengthening communication and technology systems.
Author(s): Christine M. Eisenhauer, Michael Meit
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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AzCRH 2015 Supply and Demand Study of Arizona Health Practitioners and Professionals
Provides an update on Arizona's healthcare workforce data derived from licensing boards, state and federal agencies, surveys, and interviews. Compares rural and urban workforce data and identifies strategies to moderate the workforce demand for rural health services.
Author(s): Joe Tabor, Nick Jennings, Lindsay Kohler, et al.
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Oral Health in Kentucky
Describes findings from a literature review and analyses of data about the status of oral health among particular population groups in Kentucky and ongoing efforts to improve outcomes. Features statistics including breakdowns by demographics, county economic level, access to dental services, and overall dental health.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier, Bridget Baker, et al.
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Rural Opioid Abuse: Prevalence and User Characteristics
Compares non-medical use of opioids, opiates, and heroin in rural and urban areas and assesses socioeconomic characteristics associated with their use.
Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, John A. Gale, Erika C. Ziller
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Access to Rural Home Health Services: Views from the Field
Describes current issues affecting access to rural home health services, with an emphasis on Medicare-reimbursed programs. Based on published research, gray literature, and telephone interviews with 40 key informants from 19 states between May 2014 and March 2015. Discusses challenges and barriers to access as well as possible solutions.
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman, Davis G. Patterson, Cynthia Coulthard, Tracy M. Mroz
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Long-Term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States: Data From the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, 2013-2014
Presents the results from the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers (NSLTCP). Features information on the supply, staffing, and services offered by paid, regulated providers of long-term care services, and demographics on the users of these services. Includes statistics showing the distribution of providers among metropolitan, micropolitan, and non-metropolitan areas by type of service: adult day services, home health, hospice, nursing home, and residential care community.
Author(s): Lauren Harris-Kojetin, Manisha Sengupta, Eunice Park-Lee, et al.
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Reasons for Emergency Room Use Among U.S. Adults Aged 18-64: National Health Interview Survey, 2013 and 2014
Examines emergency room (ER) use among adults for 2013 and 2014. Includes data on the number of visits and reason for most recent ER visit, with information available by area of residence for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Reasons for ER visits included seriousness of the medical problem, doctor's office or clinic not open, and lack of access to other providers.
Author(s): Renee M. Gindi, Lindsey I. Black, Robin A. Cohen
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Nonresponse Bias in Estimates From the 2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
An analysis of potential nonresponse bias in 2012 NAMCS estimates of physicians and visits to physicians. Includes data comparing metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and non-MSA response rates.
Author(s): Esther Hing, Iris M. Shimizu, Anjali Talwalkar
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Economic Evaluation Alongside a Clinical Trial of Telephone Versus In-Person Genetic Counseling for BRCA1/2 Mutations in Geographically Underserved Areas
Examines the costs of providing genetic counseling in person to providing it via telephone for primarily rural areas in Utah. Focuses on women with genetic mutations related to a high risk of breast or ovarian cancer as part of the clinical trial, Bridging Geographic Barriers: Remote Cancer Genetic Counseling for Rural Women.
Author(s): Yaojen Chang, Aimee M. Near, Karin M. Butler, et al.
Citation: Journal of Oncology Practice, 12(1), 59
Date: 01/2016
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Community-Based Diabetes Screening and Risk Assessment in Rural West Virginia
Reports on a cross-sectional study to assess diabetes risk among 540 individuals, 18 years or more, from 12 rural counties in West Virginia. A noninvasive survey combined with a glycosylated hemoglobin or A1C blood test was used to identify individuals with prediabetes, or at high risk for diabetes. Discusses the factors contributing to the high rates of diabetes and prediabetes, and the need to effectively lower the risks of diabetes in the state.
Author(s): Ranjita Misra, Cindy Fitch, David Roberts, Dana Wright
Citation: Journal of Diabetes Research, 2016
Date: 01/2016
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