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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Planning and strategy methods and resources

Assessing the Accuracy of California County Level COVID-19 Hospitalization Forecasts to Inform Public Policy Decision Making
Evaluates model performance and accuracy regarding the forecasting of infectious diseases by retroactively examining COVID-19 forecasting in California counties. Utilizes archived forecasts from the California Department of Public Health's California COVID Assessment Tool to analyze the accuracy of forecasts referenced with actual COVID-19 hospitalization. Discusses issues related to model accuracy, such as local transmission trends, variant prevalence, and county population size, and how accurate forecasting is important for public health planning and policy.
Author(s): Lauren A. White, Ryan McCorvie, David Crow, Seema Jain, Tomás M. León
Citation: BMC Public Health 23, 782
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
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Mapping a New Terrain: 5 Principles for Equitable Rural Outdoor Recreational Economies
Offers suggestions for rural communities and Native nations looking at ways to improve economic prosperity, and population health and well-being through the development of natural assets and rural outdoor recreation. Topics cover ownership and control of recreation assets, building a resilient infrastructure, coordinating assets and stakeholder engagement, respect for the landscape, people and culture during the development process, and designing for equitable access and participation for all residents. Includes recommendations for community organizations, local government, and philanthropic organizations.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Aspen Institute, Community Strategies Group
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Teens Linked to Care Toolkit
A toolkit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for developing prevention programs addressing substance use and sexual risk for youth in rural communities. Includes information on program planning, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability as well as two case studies from the pilot program using either a school-based or community-based model.
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Building Sustainable Capacity for Quality and Organizational Excellence: Critical Access Hospital Quality Infrastructure Summit
Summarizes a March 2023 summit with experts that sought to identify the core elements of infrastructure necessary for successful quality efforts in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Outlines a framework to help leaders assess needs and growth and consider holistic approaches to creating a sustainable quality infrastructure.
Additional links: Core Elements of Critical Access Hospital Quality Infrastructure Video Summary, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Critical Access Hospital Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: State Flex Program Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Video Summary
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Flex Monitoring Team, National Rural Health Resource Center, Stratis Health
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American Indian and Alaska Native Worker Safety and Health Strategic Plan
Highlights a strategic plan for researching occupational safety and health of American Indian and Alaska Native workers. Provides a step-by-step guide for conducting and disseminating research on the health and safety risks of AI/AN workers, as well as crafting safety policy for tribal communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth Dalsey, Robert Foley, Sarah Hatcher, et al.
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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Indigenous Evaluation Toolkit: An Actionable Guide for Organizations Serving American Indian/Alaska Native Communities through Opioid Prevention Programming
Toolkit presents guidance for American Indian and Alaska Native communities and organizations for providing opioid prevention services. Provides a four-phase plan for program design and details holistic and culturally competent approaches to opioid prevention.
Author(s): Danielle Eakins, Angela Gaffney, Caelin Marum, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Seven Directions - A Center for Indigenous Public Health
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Prioritizing Rural Populations in State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans: A Qualitative Assessment
Discusses the development of comprehensive cancer control (CCC) plans at the state level to address rural health disparities. Reports on interviews with cancer control leaders about barriers and facilitators in creating CCC plans and the strategies to create effective partnerships and networks in rural areas.
Author(s): Rachel Hirschey, Catherine Rohweder, Whitney E. Zahnd, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 34, 159-169
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
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Rural Hospitals Must Keep up with Innovation to Remain Viable
Describes changes to the healthcare market environment, including technology, telehealth, services offered by retailers and large corporations, and declining patient volume. Outlines priorities for Critical Access Hospitals to remain viable, including the transition to population-based payment. Details a transition framework to guide hospitals as they move to a population-based payment system and navigate a changing environment.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Associates
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Attributes of a Successful Rural Ambulance Service Assessment
Survey created by a national group of State Office of Rural Health and State EMS directors, designed for states to assess their emergency medical services. Provides information to improve performance for each attribute rated.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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Preventing and Responding to Intimate Partner Violence: An Implementation Framework for HRSA-Supported Settings of Care
Offers 5 actionable steps for organizations aiming to build capacity for intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention and response work in line with the Health Resources & Services Administration's 2023-2025 Strategy to Prevent IPV. Discusses workforce training, building partnerships, standards of care, organizational infrastructure, and data-driven decision-making. Includes rural-specific resources.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HRSA Office of Women's Health
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