Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases
Social Determinants of Health in the Age of COVID: Effects of Social Isolation Among Adults 62+ in Rural Pennsylvania
Results of a study analyzing the extent of social isolation among rural Pennsylvanians aged 62 or older during the pandemic, evaluating determinants of social isolation, identifying programs and services that minimize social isolation, and assessing potential replicability in Pennsylvania. Includes sections on factors such as mental health access, faith-based organizations, transportation, technology use, and housing options.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Christopher Harris, FangHsun Wei, Mary Rita Weller, Kelly Smith
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of a study analyzing the extent of social isolation among rural Pennsylvanians aged 62 or older during the pandemic, evaluating determinants of social isolation, identifying programs and services that minimize social isolation, and assessing potential replicability in Pennsylvania. Includes sections on factors such as mental health access, faith-based organizations, transportation, technology use, and housing options.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Christopher Harris, FangHsun Wei, Mary Rita Weller, Kelly Smith
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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COVID-19 Stakeholder Experiences in the Commonwealth of Kentucky - 2022
Results of surveys taken from October-December 2021 by 145 Kentucky school leaders, community health workers and their clients, rural community members, and healthcare providers. Includes statistics on satisfaction with telehealth, testing locations and vaccines, barriers faced during stay-at-home orders, and impact of COVID on medical care.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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Results of surveys taken from October-December 2021 by 145 Kentucky school leaders, community health workers and their clients, rural community members, and healthcare providers. Includes statistics on satisfaction with telehealth, testing locations and vaccines, barriers faced during stay-at-home orders, and impact of COVID on medical care.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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The Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Texas Hospitals
Reports on financial and operational challenges facing Texas hospitals following the COVID-19 pandemic, including rural and urban data on risk of closure. Provides charts comparing annual data on expenses and revenue changes between 2020 and 2022.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Kaufman Hall
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Reports on financial and operational challenges facing Texas hospitals following the COVID-19 pandemic, including rural and urban data on risk of closure. Provides charts comparing annual data on expenses and revenue changes between 2020 and 2022.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Kaufman Hall
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Understanding Barriers to COVID-19 Testing Among Rural and Urban Populations in Kansas
Highlights a study on the barriers to COVID-19 testing in rural and urban Kansas. Bases conclusions on the results of a 2021 survey of 2,196 Kansans and highlights reported barriers such as perceived pain of the test, unsure of where to receive testing, and not wanting to test positive, among other factors.
Author(s): Vicki L. Collie-Akers, Elizabeth Ablah, Sarah Landry, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 112(S9), S874-S877
Date: 11/2022
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Highlights a study on the barriers to COVID-19 testing in rural and urban Kansas. Bases conclusions on the results of a 2021 survey of 2,196 Kansans and highlights reported barriers such as perceived pain of the test, unsure of where to receive testing, and not wanting to test positive, among other factors.
Author(s): Vicki L. Collie-Akers, Elizabeth Ablah, Sarah Landry, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 112(S9), S874-S877
Date: 11/2022
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State Medicaid Telehealth Policies Before and During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: 2022 Update
Examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Describes the types of Medicaid services that were allowed to be delivered by telehealth and the types of telehealth modality covered before the PHE, in May 2020, and in January 2022. Outlines the status of state Medicaid telehealth flexibilities based on state executive orders and Medicaid agency guidance. Builds on a July 2021 analysis of state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 PHE.
Author(s): Jacquelyn Rudich, Ann B. Conmy, Rose C. Chum, et al
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Describes the types of Medicaid services that were allowed to be delivered by telehealth and the types of telehealth modality covered before the PHE, in May 2020, and in January 2022. Outlines the status of state Medicaid telehealth flexibilities based on state executive orders and Medicaid agency guidance. Builds on a July 2021 analysis of state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 PHE.
Author(s): Jacquelyn Rudich, Ann B. Conmy, Rose C. Chum, et al
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Physical Activity Among Adults in Rural Western North Carolina During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines physical activity among adults in a rural area of North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 297 survey responses from August 3, 2020 through September 15, 2020 and reports on demographic characteristics of respondents, type of and reason for physical activity, and perceived barriers and benefits of physical activity.
Author(s): Wade L. Creech, Brooke C. Towner, Rebecca A. Battista
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19
Date: 11/2022
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Examines physical activity among adults in a rural area of North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 297 survey responses from August 3, 2020 through September 15, 2020 and reports on demographic characteristics of respondents, type of and reason for physical activity, and perceived barriers and benefits of physical activity.
Author(s): Wade L. Creech, Brooke C. Towner, Rebecca A. Battista
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19
Date: 11/2022
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Advancing Telehealth Equity
Describes the rise in telehealth use in Massachusetts since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and disparities in use across populations. Summarizes the access, quality, and experience factors associated with telehealth from the perspective of patients, providers, and community leaders. Identifies barriers and factors that promoted telehealth use. Offers recommendations for health plans to advance telehealth equity by addressing the root causes of the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, removing structural and financial barriers to telehealth access, and supporting higher quality and more inclusive care delivery.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
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Describes the rise in telehealth use in Massachusetts since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and disparities in use across populations. Summarizes the access, quality, and experience factors associated with telehealth from the perspective of patients, providers, and community leaders. Identifies barriers and factors that promoted telehealth use. Offers recommendations for health plans to advance telehealth equity by addressing the root causes of the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, removing structural and financial barriers to telehealth access, and supporting higher quality and more inclusive care delivery.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
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Sociodemographic Variation in Early Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine and Parental Intent and Attitudes Toward Vaccination of Children Aged 6 Months–4 Years — United States, July 1–29, 2022
Reports on COVID-19 vaccination and parental intent to vaccinate children 6 months to 4 years old. Includes data by place of residence for urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Tammy A. Santibanez, Tianyi Zhou, Carla L. Black, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(46), 1479-1484
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on COVID-19 vaccination and parental intent to vaccinate children 6 months to 4 years old. Includes data by place of residence for urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Tammy A. Santibanez, Tianyi Zhou, Carla L. Black, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(46), 1479-1484
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Health and Health Care for Indigenous People
Fact sheet comparing data on healthcare and population health for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and other populations based on 2021 American Community Survey, Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System Data, and other national data sources.
Author(s): Drishti Pillai, Samantha Artiga
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Fact sheet comparing data on healthcare and population health for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and other populations based on 2021 American Community Survey, Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System Data, and other national data sources.
Author(s): Drishti Pillai, Samantha Artiga
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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COVID-19 Working Paper: Migration, Local Mobility, and the Spread of COVID-19 in Rural America
Examines how movement between and within communities was linked to the initial arrival and spread of COVID-19 infections into and through nonmetropolitan counties. Presents data on the level of migration to and from metropolitan counties and the relative change in work-related mobility for nonmetro counties in 2020 by the level of rurality and county economic type.
Author(s): Peter Nelson, John Cromartie
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines how movement between and within communities was linked to the initial arrival and spread of COVID-19 infections into and through nonmetropolitan counties. Presents data on the level of migration to and from metropolitan counties and the relative change in work-related mobility for nonmetro counties in 2020 by the level of rurality and county economic type.
Author(s): Peter Nelson, John Cromartie
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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