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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Minnesota's Health Care Workforce: Pandemic-Provoked Workforce Exits, Burnout, and Shortages
Reports on loss of healthcare professionals in Minnesota due to turnover, burnout, reduction in working hours, early retirement, and more. Provides charts of workforce professionals in 2019 compared to 2021 by vacancy, working a position unrelated to healthcare license, job dissatisfaction, and more, as well as charts showing rural versus urban comparisons of workforce issues.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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COVID-19 and the Rural Health Workforce: The Impact of Federal Pandemic Funding to Address Workforce Needs
Policy brief describing workforce challenges faced by rural healthcare delivery systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussing how pre-pandemic financial instability in rural healthcare facilities may have contributed to these challenges. Discusses the availability of federal pandemic funding to address rural health workforce needs, the ability of rural facilities to access and utilize the funding, and the long-term needs of the rural health workforce and delivery system. Addresses telehealth solutions to workforce challenges, and funding sources for mental health needs of health professionals
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Davis G. Patterson, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Indian Health Service: Relief Funding and Agency Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Describes the COVID-19 relief funding for Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal, and urban Indian organization health facilities and how the funds were used to meet immediate and longstanding system needs. Discusses the initial IHS response to the pandemic and steps IHS took to address challenges that its hospitals faced responding to the pandemic.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Hospital Profitability during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Requires Careful Interpretation
Findings brief describing the trend of rural hospital profitability in 2011-19 and explaining why possible increases in reported profitability during the pandemic (2020-21) may mask the long-term financial challenges of rural hospitals. Features statistics including median total margin of all rural hospitals and percentage of rural hospitals with a total negative margin by year from 2011-2021, and estimated distribution of provider relief funding to hospitals as of February 2021, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): George Pink, Susie Gurzenda, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Over Two-Thirds of the Nation's Counties Had Natural Decrease in 2021
Presents county-level population changes from 2020-2021 based on U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2021 Population Estimates data. Reports on micropolitan and metropolitan areas and discusses impact of aging populations and COVID-19 on counties. Includes a U.S. map depicting percent population change by county.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Burnout, and Professional Quality of Life among the Hospital Workforce During a Global Health Pandemic
Study examining rates of anxiety, stress, burnout, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic among 771 hospital staff in North Dakota, based on a survey conducted in the summer of 2021. Offers rural and urban comparisons of compassion satisfaction and burnout.
Author(s): Daniel Kelly, Shawnda Schroeder, Kristen Leighton
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 795-804
Date: 03/2022
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Do Rural Hospitals Have An Advantage During A Pandemic?
Analysis of the challenges, advantages, and policy landscape affecting rural hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses workforce issues, community relationships, and emergency preparedness.
Author(s): Miriam Krikorian Atkinson, John L. Hick, Sara J. Singer, Nicholas V. Cagliuso, Paul D. Biddinger
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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Rural Adults Report Worse Employment and Economic Impacts from COVID-19 than Urban Adults
Brief examining rural and urban differences in the impacts of COVID-19 on physical and mental health, financial well-being, employment, and social relationships among adults age 18-64. Analyzes data from the 2021 National Wellbeing Survey of 4,014 adults.
Author(s): Shannon M. Monnat
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Population Research Network
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Exploring Perceived Risk for COVID-19 and Its Role in Protective Behavior and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Qualitative Study after the First Wave
Presents a study on the perceived risk of COVID-19 among rural Kentuckians during the first wave of the pandemic. Explores attitudes about protective behavior and vaccine hesitancy. Bases conclusions on interviews conducted by phone between July 3rd and July 24th of 2020.
Author(s): Naomi J. Patterson, Valerie A. Paz-Soldan, Richard Oberhelman, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 503
Date: 03/2022
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2022
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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