Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
Health Care's Role in Rural Economic Development: How Broadband Can Improve Health Outcomes
Policy brief exploring how lack of broadband infrastructure and adaptation in rural areas limits access to healthcare. Includes recommendations for policies and actions to improve the rural broadband infrastructure and promote telehealth.
Author(s): Jeremy Cannon
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief exploring how lack of broadband infrastructure and adaptation in rural areas limits access to healthcare. Includes recommendations for policies and actions to improve the rural broadband infrastructure and promote telehealth.
Author(s): Jeremy Cannon
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Ventilation Improvements Among K–12 Public School Districts — United States, August–December 2022
Reports on K-12 public school ventilation improvements to prevent COVID-19 transmission, including replacing or upgrading ventilation systems, installing filtration systems, installing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation devices, and improving airflow. Includes data for city, suburb, town, and rural locations.
Author(s): Miguella Mark-Carew, Gloria Kang, Sanjana Pampati, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 72(14), 372-376
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on K-12 public school ventilation improvements to prevent COVID-19 transmission, including replacing or upgrading ventilation systems, installing filtration systems, installing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation devices, and improving airflow. Includes data for city, suburb, town, and rural locations.
Author(s): Miguella Mark-Carew, Gloria Kang, Sanjana Pampati, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 72(14), 372-376
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan, 2023-2028
Multi-year strategic plan developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Healthy Pennsylvania Partnership, a multi-sector partnership of stakeholders and collaborators. Outlines steps and partnerships needed to achieve health equity, chronic disease prevention, and whole person care, and encourages policymakers, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and residents to promote and support health improvements throughout Pennsylvania.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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Multi-year strategic plan developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Healthy Pennsylvania Partnership, a multi-sector partnership of stakeholders and collaborators. Outlines steps and partnerships needed to achieve health equity, chronic disease prevention, and whole person care, and encourages policymakers, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and residents to promote and support health improvements throughout Pennsylvania.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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Measuring and Mapping Physical Activity Disparity (PAD) Index Based on Physical Activity Environment for Children
Uses the Physical Activity Disparity (PAD) index to measure accessibility, availability, accommodation, affordability, and acceptability for children's physical activity in the United States and the state of Georgia at the county level. PAD index identifies "play oases" and "play deserts" for children. Figure 3 shows the PAD index alongside rural and urban classifications.
Author(s): Jue Yang, Lan Mu, Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa
Citation: International Journal of Geo-Information, 12(3), 134
Date: 03/2023
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Uses the Physical Activity Disparity (PAD) index to measure accessibility, availability, accommodation, affordability, and acceptability for children's physical activity in the United States and the state of Georgia at the county level. PAD index identifies "play oases" and "play deserts" for children. Figure 3 shows the PAD index alongside rural and urban classifications.
Author(s): Jue Yang, Lan Mu, Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa
Citation: International Journal of Geo-Information, 12(3), 134
Date: 03/2023
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2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report
Analyzes county-level health and wellness data, focusing on issues such as civic infrastructure and socioeconomic opportunity. Includes information on access to broadband, libraries, parks and recreation, schools, and social organizations. Provides U.S. map of county-level life expectancy (LE) and discusses the relationship of LE to civic participation.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Analyzes county-level health and wellness data, focusing on issues such as civic infrastructure and socioeconomic opportunity. Includes information on access to broadband, libraries, parks and recreation, schools, and social organizations. Provides U.S. map of county-level life expectancy (LE) and discusses the relationship of LE to civic participation.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Rural Community Transit Strategies: Building on, Expanding, and Enhancing Existing Assets and Programs
Provides an overview of a potential rural transit model based on the current infrastructure in Minnesota and by examining other state models. Focuses on solutions such as hybrid mobility, small town assets, expanding service, responding to driver shortages, engaging citizens and networking within communities, and more. Discusses public health concerns such as food access and disability accommodations.
Author(s): Thomas Fisher, Mary Vogel, Alireza Khani, Fernando Burga
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Transportation
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Provides an overview of a potential rural transit model based on the current infrastructure in Minnesota and by examining other state models. Focuses on solutions such as hybrid mobility, small town assets, expanding service, responding to driver shortages, engaging citizens and networking within communities, and more. Discusses public health concerns such as food access and disability accommodations.
Author(s): Thomas Fisher, Mary Vogel, Alireza Khani, Fernando Burga
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Transportation
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COVID-19 Related Protocol Considerations and Modifications within a Rural, Community-Engaged Health Promotion Randomized Trial
Examines data collection protocol modifications in the Change Club (CC) intervention which aims to improve civic engagement and built environment factors related to obesity and other chronic disease disparities. Analyzes 12 rural communities engaged in the CC intervention and discusses the subsequent measurements to observe intervention impacts, which were adjusted from onsite to self-reported due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes data collection protocols that can establish both rigor and feasibility in rural health research.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Galen D. Eldridge, Meredith Graham, et al.
Citation: Methods and Protocols, 6(1), 5
Date: 01/2023
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Examines data collection protocol modifications in the Change Club (CC) intervention which aims to improve civic engagement and built environment factors related to obesity and other chronic disease disparities. Analyzes 12 rural communities engaged in the CC intervention and discusses the subsequent measurements to observe intervention impacts, which were adjusted from onsite to self-reported due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes data collection protocols that can establish both rigor and feasibility in rural health research.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Galen D. Eldridge, Meredith Graham, et al.
Citation: Methods and Protocols, 6(1), 5
Date: 01/2023
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The Health Equity & Access for Rural Dually Eligible Individuals (HEARD) Toolkit: Raising Rural Voices from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to Create Action
Provides an overview on the access barriers and health disparities of Medicaid and Medicare dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas. Presents research and stakeholder feedback from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to provide information to policymakers. Discusses topics such as community planning related to equity and infrastructure, workforce capacity and community health workers (CHWs), and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, Susan McGeehan, Rebecca Kellenberg, Andrea Maresca
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health Management Associates
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Provides an overview on the access barriers and health disparities of Medicaid and Medicare dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas. Presents research and stakeholder feedback from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to provide information to policymakers. Discusses topics such as community planning related to equity and infrastructure, workforce capacity and community health workers (CHWs), and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, Susan McGeehan, Rebecca Kellenberg, Andrea Maresca
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health Management Associates
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Barriers, Facilitators, and Opportunities to Promote Healthy Weight Behaviors among Preschool-Aged Children in Two Rural U.S Communities
Examines barriers, facilitators, and opportunities related to supporting wellness and healthy weight in rural preschool children. Utilizes focus group interviews with parents, caregivers, and community organizations as well as observation of built environment to assess healthy eating and physical activity resources. Discusses wellness barriers and facilitators for preschool children at the family, organization, and community levels.
Author(s): Katherine Jochim Pope, Cason Whitcomb, Maihan Vu, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health 23, 53
Date: 01/2023
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Examines barriers, facilitators, and opportunities related to supporting wellness and healthy weight in rural preschool children. Utilizes focus group interviews with parents, caregivers, and community organizations as well as observation of built environment to assess healthy eating and physical activity resources. Discusses wellness barriers and facilitators for preschool children at the family, organization, and community levels.
Author(s): Katherine Jochim Pope, Cason Whitcomb, Maihan Vu, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health 23, 53
Date: 01/2023
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Neighborhood Greenspace and Changes in Pediatric Obesity During COVID-19
Examines rates of pediatric obesity before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic as related to normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) or greenspace. Analyzes patient electronic health records (EHRs) of 81,418 children who had a pediatric visit between June 2019 and December 2019 and then again between June 2020 and December 2020. Includes demographic breakdowns of EHR patients by age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance type, neighborhood measures such as social/economic deprivation and supermarket access, and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Author(s): Stephanie L. Mayne, Shannon Kelleher, Chloe Hannan, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(1), 33-41
Date: 01/2023
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Examines rates of pediatric obesity before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic as related to normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) or greenspace. Analyzes patient electronic health records (EHRs) of 81,418 children who had a pediatric visit between June 2019 and December 2019 and then again between June 2020 and December 2020. Includes demographic breakdowns of EHR patients by age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance type, neighborhood measures such as social/economic deprivation and supermarket access, and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Author(s): Stephanie L. Mayne, Shannon Kelleher, Chloe Hannan, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(1), 33-41
Date: 01/2023
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