Which Definition of Rurality Should I Use?: The Relative Performance of 8 Federal Rural Definitions in Identifying Rural-Urban Disparities
Study comparing 8 definitions of rural used by the federal government in order to understand how often the same areas were identified as rural and to measure rural-urban disparities related to socioeconomic status, demographics, healthcare access, and health outcomes. Analyzes 20210 census tract-level spatial data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2014-2019 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) population estimates, the Provider of Services file, and the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System files from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Author(s): Julianna C. Long, Paul L. Delamater, George M. Holmes
Citation: Medical Care, 59, S413-S419
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
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Mental Health System Development in Rural and Remote Areas during COVID-19
Report highlights the barriers faced by rural, remote, and tribal communities to accessing mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details rates of mental health treatment over the past year and compares rural and urban communities. Discusses factors affecting access in rural areas such as workforce shortages, lack of telehealth services, and lack of culturally competent care for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, among others.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
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Ready to Respond: Mental Health Beyond Crisis and COVID-19
Report highlights strategies for addressing the need for mental health services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Details seven recommendations for state mental health programs post-pandemic and discusses workforce challenges and how telehealth can be used to expand access to care to rural and underserved areas.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
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Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan
A comprehensive federal action plan to address COVID-19. Covers vaccination, testing, prevention, and care for those with COVID-19. Also addresses schools and the economy.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: The White House
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Urban-Rural Differences in Suicide Rates and Leading Means in Kansas
Examines suicide rates and the means of suicide in Kansas between 2000-2019. Compares data by frontier, rural, densely-settled rural, semi-urban, and urban counties.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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The Impact of a Population-Based Prevention Program on Cardiovascular Events: Findings from the Heart of New Ulm Project
Study examining major cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence during 9 years of the Heart of New Ulm (HONU) project implementation in rural Minnesota, comparing 4,056 New Ulm residents with 4,056 residents from a separate community. Discusses differences in rates of major CVD events, including ischemic stroke, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and death related to CVD, assessing outcomes of the HONU project.
Author(s): Abbey C. Sidebottom, Michael D. Miedema, Gretchen Benson, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal, 239, 38-51
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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Use of Electronic Health Records to Manage Tobacco Screening and Treatment in Rural Primary Care
Study examining the benefits of using electronic health records (EHR) in addressing tobacco dependence by primary care providers, comparing rural and urban data from the 2012-2015 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Discusses the utility of EHR and barriers to EHR adoption in rural practices, and offers data tables covering patient characteristics and statistics related to primary care visits and smoking cessation.
Author(s): Jean A. Talbot, Erika C. Ziller, Carly M. Milkowski
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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Extent of Inclusion of "Rural" in Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans in the United States
Presents a study of 66 comprehensive cancer control plans (CCCPs) created by states, territories, and tribal organizations to assess inclusion of rural-specific strategies. Explains CCCP requirements and offers state-level data on how plans reflect rural population, cancer burden, and disparities.
Author(s): Cathryn Murphy, Sydney Evans, Natoshia Askelson, Jan M. Eberth, Whitney E. Zahnd
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, 210091
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2020
Reports on vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents ages 13 through 17. Includes data on vaccination coverage by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residence and poverty status. Includes nonmetro data related to the following vaccines: Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis), MenACWY (quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate), HPV (human papillomavirus), MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and varicella.
Author(s): Cassandra Pingali, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(35), 1183-1190
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence
Toolkit to support rural community-based groups, faith-based organizations, businesses, healthcare organizations, and others to develop communication materials to promote vaccine confidence. Offers customizable templates for print ads, posters, brochures, social media posts, and an online resource guide.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organizations: Legato Healthcare Marketing, National Rural Health Resource Center
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