Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Populations
Emergency Department Visit Rates by Selected Characteristics: United States, 2019
Describes emergency department visit rates in 2019 using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Presents data by selected patient characteristics including metropolitan statistical area status, age, sex, race and ethnicity, and health insurance status.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
Describes emergency department visit rates in 2019 using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Presents data by selected patient characteristics including metropolitan statistical area status, age, sex, race and ethnicity, and health insurance status.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
VA Recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission
Presents Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission to modernize and realign the VA health care system. Recommendations cover investing in the VA outpatient care infrastructure, enhancing care for veterans with complex needs, providing access to inpatient medical and surgical care, and strengthening the VA's ability to execute its education, research, and emergency preparedness missions. Volume I outlines the legislative history; the present and future of VA health care, including the access needs of rural veterans; the methodology used to conduct the market assessments; and a national summary of the recommendations. Volume II details the recommendations and is organized by the 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs).
Additional links: Appendices, Volume I, Volume II
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
view details
Presents Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission to modernize and realign the VA health care system. Recommendations cover investing in the VA outpatient care infrastructure, enhancing care for veterans with complex needs, providing access to inpatient medical and surgical care, and strengthening the VA's ability to execute its education, research, and emergency preparedness missions. Volume I outlines the legislative history; the present and future of VA health care, including the access needs of rural veterans; the methodology used to conduct the market assessments; and a national summary of the recommendations. Volume II details the recommendations and is organized by the 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs).
Additional links: Appendices, Volume I, Volume II
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
view details
Engaging Communities Through Issues Forums: A How-To Guide for Onsite and Online Community Engagement
Offers guidance on community forums as a technical education tool, including information on planning and hosting a forum, strategies for engaging communities, and resources to support committees and stakeholders. Features examples from forums on farm vitality, farmer mental health, and family health. Requires email registration to view the guide as a flipbook, with a PDF download option at the bottom of the screen.
Author(s): Maria Pippidis, Bonnie Braun, Jessie Ketterman, Shoshanah Inwood, Nicole Wright
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Cooperative Extension Service
view details
Offers guidance on community forums as a technical education tool, including information on planning and hosting a forum, strategies for engaging communities, and resources to support committees and stakeholders. Features examples from forums on farm vitality, farmer mental health, and family health. Requires email registration to view the guide as a flipbook, with a PDF download option at the bottom of the screen.
Author(s): Maria Pippidis, Bonnie Braun, Jessie Ketterman, Shoshanah Inwood, Nicole Wright
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Cooperative Extension Service
view details
Indian Health Service: Information on Third-Party Collections and Processes to Procure Supplies and Services
Reviews the Indian Health Service (IHS) oversight of collections received from third-party payers such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for care provided to patients. Examines recent trends in third-party collections; describes IHS's processes to procure medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and health care services; and discusses the extent to which IHS has entered into procurement contracts under the Buy Indian Act.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Reviews the Indian Health Service (IHS) oversight of collections received from third-party payers such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for care provided to patients. Examines recent trends in third-party collections; describes IHS's processes to procure medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and health care services; and discusses the extent to which IHS has entered into procurement contracts under the Buy Indian Act.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Medical Education for African American Communities in the Rural South: A Focus Group Approach to Identify Fundamental Considerations
Examines the shortage of African American medical students in the rural South based on interview transcripts from rural medical educators, African American alumni, and community and institutional associates part of a rural medicine education pipeline. Includes themes such as how to define rural minority students and rural minority student recruitment and retention. Discusses collaborative strategies in rural medical education to improve healthcare disparities in shortage areas.
Author(s): John R. Wheat, Antonio J. Gardner, Laura H. Downey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 535-544
Date: 03/2022
view details
Examines the shortage of African American medical students in the rural South based on interview transcripts from rural medical educators, African American alumni, and community and institutional associates part of a rural medicine education pipeline. Includes themes such as how to define rural minority students and rural minority student recruitment and retention. Discusses collaborative strategies in rural medical education to improve healthcare disparities in shortage areas.
Author(s): John R. Wheat, Antonio J. Gardner, Laura H. Downey, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 535-544
Date: 03/2022
view details
Tribal Epidemiology Centers: HHS Actions Needed to Enhance Data Access
Provides an overview of the history and roles of tribal epidemiology centers (TECs). Describes the ability of TECs to access and use state and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) epidemiological data and examines factors that impact TECs' access and use of HHS data. Offers recommendations to clarify the data available to TECs and to develop guidance on the TEC data request process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Provides an overview of the history and roles of tribal epidemiology centers (TECs). Describes the ability of TECs to access and use state and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) epidemiological data and examines factors that impact TECs' access and use of HHS data. Offers recommendations to clarify the data available to TECs and to develop guidance on the TEC data request process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Between Urban and Rural Counties — United States, December 14, 2020–January 31, 2022
Examines COVID-19 vaccination disparities between urban and rural people 5 years of age and older. Discusses factors that may have contributed to vaccination disparities, including healthcare access, views about COVID-19 specifically, and vaccine hesitancy more generally. Provides data based on a 6-level urban-rural classification and a 2-level urban-rural classification, with vaccination coverage by sex, age group, and state. Also includes data on vaccine series completion and receipt of a booster or additional dose.
Author(s): Ryan Saelee, Elizabeth Zell, Bhavini Patel Murthy, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(9), 335-340
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Examines COVID-19 vaccination disparities between urban and rural people 5 years of age and older. Discusses factors that may have contributed to vaccination disparities, including healthcare access, views about COVID-19 specifically, and vaccine hesitancy more generally. Provides data based on a 6-level urban-rural classification and a 2-level urban-rural classification, with vaccination coverage by sex, age group, and state. Also includes data on vaccine series completion and receipt of a booster or additional dose.
Author(s): Ryan Saelee, Elizabeth Zell, Bhavini Patel Murthy, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(9), 335-340
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Public Transportation's Role in Rural Healthcare Access with Carol Wright Kenderdine
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carol Wright Kenderdine. Discusses transportation needs and challenges faced by rural older adults and people with disabilities. Explains the role of rural public transit agencies, national resources available to support transit, and how COVID-19 has spurred innovation in rural transportation.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carol Wright Kenderdine. Discusses transportation needs and challenges faced by rural older adults and people with disabilities. Explains the role of rural public transit agencies, national resources available to support transit, and how COVID-19 has spurred innovation in rural transportation.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Veterans Community Care Program: VA Should Strengthen Its Ability to Identify Ineligible Health Care Providers
Examines the extent to which vulnerabilities in Veterans Community Care Program eligibility requirements contribute to potentially ineligible providers participating in the program. Offers recommendations to the Veterans Administration to enhance provider eligibility controls and oversight.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Examines the extent to which vulnerabilities in Veterans Community Care Program eligibility requirements contribute to potentially ineligible providers participating in the program. Offers recommendations to the Veterans Administration to enhance provider eligibility controls and oversight.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Hawaii 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment
Reports on Hawaii's triennial community health needs assessment. Addresses access to healthcare, transportation challenges, healthy food access, cultural competency, social determinants of health, current health status, and more. Discusses impact of COVID-19 on the community. Includes discussions of rural-specific challenges and perspectives from Native Hawaiians.
Additional links: Addendum to the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment: Additional Tracking of Secondary Data
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Healthcare Association of Hawaii
view details
Reports on Hawaii's triennial community health needs assessment. Addresses access to healthcare, transportation challenges, healthy food access, cultural competency, social determinants of health, current health status, and more. Discusses impact of COVID-19 on the community. Includes discussions of rural-specific challenges and perspectives from Native Hawaiians.
Additional links: Addendum to the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment: Additional Tracking of Secondary Data
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Healthcare Association of Hawaii
view details