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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Madison Medical Center Hospital Spotlight
Discusses how the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program helped Madison Medical Center use health outcome data and community partnerships to launch an initiative to address high obesity rates. Transcript available under description.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Pinckneyville Community Hospital Spotlight Video
Discusses how the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program helped Pinckneyville Community Hospital improve overall community health and wellness and decrease emergency room admissions by focusing on care coordination and working with community partners, collaborating with a nearby hospital, and addressing the social determinants of health in their community. Transcript available below description.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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DRCHSD Spotlight on Natchitoches Regional Medical Center
Profiles Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (NRMC) in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Discusses how NRMC implemented best practices from the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program to improve their emergency department redirect program and form community partnerships to address social determinants of health and improve the health of the population.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Population Aging and Heat Exposure in the 21st Century: Which U.S. Regions Are at Greatest Risk and Why?
Analyzes the 2050 projected heat exposure alongside the current and 2050 projected size and distribution of the 69 and older population to identify populations and regions at greatest risk for increasing heat exposure. Identifies rural areas at greatest risk of increasing heat and an aging population. Discusses the efficacy of various policy measures and infrastructure needs of various regions to deal with the impacts of increasing heat on the older adult population.
Author(s): Deborah Carr, Giacomo Falchetta, Ian Sue Wing
Citation: Gerontologist, 64(3)
Date: 04/2023
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Promoting Disposal of Left-Over Opioids After Surgery in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Description Study
Evaluates factors influencing opioid disposal after surgery among 30 patients in rural communities in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Identifies barriers and facilitators of opioid disposal, including awareness and engagement, perceived risks of keeping left-over opioids, convenience of disposal, and motivators of intentional nondisposal.
Author(s): Lyen C. Huang, Jordan E. Johnson, Josh Bleicher, et al.
Citation: Health Education & Behavior, 50(2), 281-289
Date: 04/2023
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Challenges and Recommendations for Improving Access to Evidence-Based COPD Management among Rural Veterans: Rural Primary Care Provider Perspectives
Highlights a study on the perspectives of primary care providers serving rural veterans on the challenges of providing evidence-based COPD management care in rural communities. Details key barriers and makes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Talitha Wilson, R. Adams Dudley, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38, 2843-2845
Date: 04/2023
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2022 Alaska Community Needs Assessment
Results of a February 2023 survey to gather household-level data on individualized, local needs in the areas of education, employment, workforce development, food security, and access to healthcare resources. Features demographics and statistics on disabilities, poverty, education level, rural housing, healthcare access, deaths of despair, substance use, and supply and demand of dental, mental health, and primary care providers.
Author(s): Daniel O'Brien
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.
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Best Practices for COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing
Summarizes findings of an environmental scan of testing and vaccination policies and programs serving people who are medically or socially at disproportionate risk for COVID-19 and related adverse outcomes. Identifies populations at disproportionate risk, including rural residents, and their barriers to COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccination, and routine vaccination. Describes programs that aim to overcome these barriers and increase access to testing and vaccination services. Discuss the implications of these programs' strategies and approaches for future pandemics and public health crises.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Evaluation of the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model Second Annual Report (Implementation Year 1)
Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's first implementation year, July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum people with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Insight Policy Research
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Wisconsin Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR) Analysis, 2015–2019: Understanding Inequities in Fetal and Infant Mortality Impacting American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
Provides an overview of fetal and infant mortality in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in Wisconsin from 2015-2019. Includes data on 4 perinatal periods of risk (PPOR) and comparisons between the AI/AN population and the general Wisconsin population. Discusses prevention areas and needs for culturally competent care related to sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), factors of low birthweight, and delivery complications and mortality related to low birthweight.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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