Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
2024 National CAH Quality Inventory & Assessment National Report
Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2024 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; and CAH quality payment model participation.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2024 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; and CAH quality payment model participation.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Impact of Alcohol Use Disorder on Inpatient Hospitalizations: A Comparison of Outcomes Between Urban and Rural Veterans Affairs Hospitals
Analyzes Veterans Health Administration hospital admissions data from 2016 to 2020 to determine the burden of alcohol use disorder on 129 rural and urban hospitals. Data shows break down of patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and admissions characteristics. Discusses mortality and the potential impact of COVID-19.
Author(s): James Willey, Peter Kaboli, Andrea Holcombe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Medicine, 20(5), 463-470
Date: 05/2025
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Analyzes Veterans Health Administration hospital admissions data from 2016 to 2020 to determine the burden of alcohol use disorder on 129 rural and urban hospitals. Data shows break down of patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and admissions characteristics. Discusses mortality and the potential impact of COVID-19.
Author(s): James Willey, Peter Kaboli, Andrea Holcombe, et al.
Citation: Journal of Hospital Medicine, 20(5), 463-470
Date: 05/2025
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South Dakota 2025 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report
Provides county level data on the number of HIV/AIDS cases for South Dakota. Addresses co-infections with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and characteristics of infected residents.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Provides county level data on the number of HIV/AIDS cases for South Dakota. Addresses co-infections with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and characteristics of infected residents.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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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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Changes in the Availability of Inpatient Psychiatric Beds Across Rural and Urban Areas, 2012-2021
Policy brief describing numbers of Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals providing inpatient psychiatric care, and comparing these to urban PPS hospitals. Also examines psychiatric unit closure rates and the effect on access to behavioral health services in rural areas.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah T. Croll, Jamar Croom, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing numbers of Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals providing inpatient psychiatric care, and comparing these to urban PPS hospitals. Also examines psychiatric unit closure rates and the effect on access to behavioral health services in rural areas.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah T. Croll, Jamar Croom, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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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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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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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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