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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Occupational health and safety

New COVID-19 Cases since March 1, 2020: Comparing Rural Counties with 20 Percent or More Employment in Meatpacking to All Other Rural Counties in the United States
Line chart comparing COVID-19 cases in nonmetro meatpacking-dependent counties to cases in all other nonmetro counties.
Date: 05/2021
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Building Resilience Among Physical and Behavioral Healthcare Providers During a Global Health Pandemic
Toolkit discusses burnout among physical and behavioral healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides strategies to build resilience to burnout. Defines a number of root causes to provider burnout, such as compassion fatigue, ambiguous loss, and secondary traumatic stress, among others. Discusses how rural providers, especially sole community providers, can face specific challenges during a pandemic that can lead to burnout.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder, Per Ostmo, Robin Landwehr, Andrew McLean, Thomasine Heitkamp
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
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COVID-19 Outbreak Among Farmworkers — Okanogan County, Washington, May–August 2020
Examined risk factors for COVID-19 among fruit grower employees working in orchard and warehouse settings in Okanogan County, Washington. Looked at the impact of housing, comparing those living in the community to those living in congregate temporary housing. Also looked at infection rates by job role.
Author(s): James S. Miller, Michelle Holshue, Tia K.H. Dostal, Laura P. Newman, Scott Lindquist
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(17), 617-621
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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An Outbreak of COVID-19 Among H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers
Highlights a study on COVID-19 outbreaks among temporary agricultural workers with H-2A visas. Focuses on crew of 120 workers in north central Florida. Details the workers' demographic information, such as age, gender, and country of origin, and discusses some of the factors contributing to the outbreak.
Author(s): Michael Lauzardo, Nadia Kovacevich, Anthony Dennis, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 111(4), 571–573
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
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COVID-19 Outbreaks in Correctional Facilities with Work-Release Programs — Idaho, July–November 2020
Reports on COVID-19 outbreaks among incarcerated people at five Idaho correctional facilities with work-release programs. The work-release sites included an agriculture-related rural work camp and two food processing plants. Discusses the increased risk of COVID-19 exposure related to work-release programs, as well as correctional facility mitigation activities and outbreak control.
Author(s): Eileen M. Dunne, Ellie Morgan, Bruce Wells-Moore, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(16), 589-594
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Promising Flex Program Initiatives to Support Critical Access Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reports on promising State Flex Program (SFP) strategies to support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and address priority needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights initiatives implemented by SFPs in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. Discusses strategies regarding support for frontline staff, staff communication, communication to rural communities, clinical and service improvement, and CAH and Rural Health Clinic financial performance. Discusses ongoing considerations and concerns.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, John Gale
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Spatial Analysis of Health Care Utilization among Medicare Beneficiaries with Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis and Other Related Pneumoconiosis
Results of a study to determine and map the geographical distribution of healthcare utilization patterns among 8,625 Medicare beneficiaries with black lung disease (CWP) and other related respiratory diseases from 2011-2014. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of coal work-related disease and county-level maps showing healthcare utilization rates for beneficiaries with CWP or other related pneumoconiosis as the diagnosis.
Author(s): Ahmed A. Arif, Claudio Owusu, Rajib Paul, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Grantee Directory: Rural Tribal COVID-19 Response Program, 2020
Provides contact information and brief project descriptions for the 57 tribal grantees funded under the Rural Tribal COVID-19 Response Grant Program in the 2020-2022 funding cycle. Activities supported by this funding include COVID-19 testing, telehealth implementation, personal protective equipment and supplies, and hiring and training healthcare providers.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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"All Hands On Deck": The COVID-19 Pandemic Through Nurses' Eyes
Podcast recording featuring Mary Wakefield describes the role of nurses and the challenges they have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses shortages of personal protective equipment, workforce challenges, vaccine administration, and solutions to support nurses in the future. Highlights the experiences of nurses at rural hospitals and clinics.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Extreme Weather Events - Perspectives & Safety Impacts in Agriculture
Highlights the experiences of agricultural workers and employers on the effect of extreme weather on the health and wellness of agricultural workers. Discusses the challenges and precautions of working in extreme heat, dust, and wildfires, among other elements.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
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