Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Primary care
Urban–Rural Differences in Mental and Physical Health among Primary Care Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Secondary Analysis from a Randomized Clinical Trial
Presents a study on the differences in mental and physical health outcomes for people with multiple chronic conditions in rural and urban areas with access to primary care providers. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, such as age, income, and chronic conditions, among others.
Author(s): Levi N. Bonnell, Jessica Clifton, Gail L. Rose, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 15580
Date: 11/2022
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Presents a study on the differences in mental and physical health outcomes for people with multiple chronic conditions in rural and urban areas with access to primary care providers. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, such as age, income, and chronic conditions, among others.
Author(s): Levi N. Bonnell, Jessica Clifton, Gail L. Rose, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 15580
Date: 11/2022
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New Mexico Primary Care Alternative Payment Model Provider Readiness Assessment
Examines facilitators and barriers related to primary care stakeholders' readiness to implement an alternative payment model (APM) in New Mexico. Analyzes 2022 survey and focus group data from providers to gain feedback from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), small- and medium-sized practices, hospitals, and interprofessional teams. Discusses issues such as care delivery, health information technology (HIT), financial and organizational readiness, and more, with information specific to small and rural facilities.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Health Management Associates, New Mexico Human Services Department
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Examines facilitators and barriers related to primary care stakeholders' readiness to implement an alternative payment model (APM) in New Mexico. Analyzes 2022 survey and focus group data from providers to gain feedback from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), small- and medium-sized practices, hospitals, and interprofessional teams. Discusses issues such as care delivery, health information technology (HIT), financial and organizational readiness, and more, with information specific to small and rural facilities.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Health Management Associates, New Mexico Human Services Department
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Is Being There Enough? Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner Residencies in Rural Primary Care
Examines the characteristics of rural and rural-serving postgraduate nurse practitioner (NP) residency programs, and the practices they use to determine if and how they enable recruitment, transition, and retention of NPs in rural primary care practice. Interviews were conducted with residency program directors, clinic personnel, and current and former NP residents, and analyzed to identify key themes and variations in program structure.
Author(s): Louise Kaplan, Samantha W. Pollock, Susan M. Skillman, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 529-534
Date: 11/2022
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Examines the characteristics of rural and rural-serving postgraduate nurse practitioner (NP) residency programs, and the practices they use to determine if and how they enable recruitment, transition, and retention of NPs in rural primary care practice. Interviews were conducted with residency program directors, clinic personnel, and current and former NP residents, and analyzed to identify key themes and variations in program structure.
Author(s): Louise Kaplan, Samantha W. Pollock, Susan M. Skillman, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 529-534
Date: 11/2022
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Responding to One Rural Community's Primary Care Needs: Investing in Workforce and Broad Community Stakeholder Engagement
Commentary describing a model in which an academic health system in Rockingham County, North Carolina made targeted primary care investments to address rural health disparities while working to ensure sustainability within the health workforce. Examines challenges to improving rural health outcomes and offers suggestions for health systems seeking to replicate the Rockingham model.
Author(s): Sherry Hay, Emily M. Hawes, Alyssa Zamierowski, Stokes Ann Hunt, Cristen P. Page
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 83(6), 435-439
Date: 11/2022
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Commentary describing a model in which an academic health system in Rockingham County, North Carolina made targeted primary care investments to address rural health disparities while working to ensure sustainability within the health workforce. Examines challenges to improving rural health outcomes and offers suggestions for health systems seeking to replicate the Rockingham model.
Author(s): Sherry Hay, Emily M. Hawes, Alyssa Zamierowski, Stokes Ann Hunt, Cristen P. Page
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 83(6), 435-439
Date: 11/2022
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Rural-Urban Prescribing Patterns by Primary Care and Behavioral Health Providers in Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness
Examines psychiatric prescription patterns by behavioral health specialists (BHSs) and primary care providers (PCPs) in older adults with serious mental illness (SMI). Analyzes 2018 Medicare data of 2,079,045 Medicare beneficiaries who received a prescription for their SMI diagnosis. Includes rural versus urban comparisons of psychiatric medication type and provider type.
Author(s): Ulrike Muench, Matthew Jura, Cindy Parks Thomas, Jennifer Perloff, Joanne Spetz
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 1440
Date: 11/2022
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Examines psychiatric prescription patterns by behavioral health specialists (BHSs) and primary care providers (PCPs) in older adults with serious mental illness (SMI). Analyzes 2018 Medicare data of 2,079,045 Medicare beneficiaries who received a prescription for their SMI diagnosis. Includes rural versus urban comparisons of psychiatric medication type and provider type.
Author(s): Ulrike Muench, Matthew Jura, Cindy Parks Thomas, Jennifer Perloff, Joanne Spetz
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 1440
Date: 11/2022
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Advancing Telehealth Equity
Describes the rise in telehealth use in Massachusetts since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and disparities in use across populations. Summarizes the access, quality, and experience factors associated with telehealth from the perspective of patients, providers, and community leaders. Identifies barriers and factors that promoted telehealth use. Offers recommendations for health plans to advance telehealth equity by addressing the root causes of the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, removing structural and financial barriers to telehealth access, and supporting higher quality and more inclusive care delivery.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
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Describes the rise in telehealth use in Massachusetts since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and disparities in use across populations. Summarizes the access, quality, and experience factors associated with telehealth from the perspective of patients, providers, and community leaders. Identifies barriers and factors that promoted telehealth use. Offers recommendations for health plans to advance telehealth equity by addressing the root causes of the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, removing structural and financial barriers to telehealth access, and supporting higher quality and more inclusive care delivery.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
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Increasing Knowledge of Palliative Care in South Dakota
Describes the creation of the South Dakota Palliative Care Network and discusses its work to increase knowledge of palliative care among rural healthcare professionals, nursing students, and community members in the state.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Describes the creation of the South Dakota Palliative Care Network and discusses its work to increase knowledge of palliative care among rural healthcare professionals, nursing students, and community members in the state.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Patterns of Health Care Use among Rural-Urban Medicare Beneficiaries Age 85 and Older, 2010-2017
Policy brief examining how rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries age 85+ differ in terms of their socioeconomic and health characteristics that may inform healthcare use. Features statistics on trends in healthcare use, including inpatient and emergency department care, outpatient and prescription services, specialists and dentists, and home health and durable medical equipment, with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Amanda Burgess, Carly Milkowski
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief examining how rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries age 85+ differ in terms of their socioeconomic and health characteristics that may inform healthcare use. Features statistics on trends in healthcare use, including inpatient and emergency department care, outpatient and prescription services, specialists and dentists, and home health and durable medical equipment, with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Heidi O'Connor, Amanda Burgess, Carly Milkowski
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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The Path to Coordinated Federal Leadership to Strengthen Primary Health Care
Discusses the potential of a Secretary's Council on Primary Care within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Describes primary care's role in addressing policy challenges related to health equity, payment, workforce training, pandemic recovery and resilience, the opioid crisis, and mental health. Offers recommendations to include and strengthen high-quality primary care as part of a long-term vision of a high-value healthcare system. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Robert L. Phillips Jr., Christopher Koller, Alice Hm Chen
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Discusses the potential of a Secretary's Council on Primary Care within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Describes primary care's role in addressing policy challenges related to health equity, payment, workforce training, pandemic recovery and resilience, the opioid crisis, and mental health. Offers recommendations to include and strengthen high-quality primary care as part of a long-term vision of a high-value healthcare system. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Robert L. Phillips Jr., Christopher Koller, Alice Hm Chen
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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The Future of Telehealth After COVID-19: New Opportunities and Challenges
Provides an overview of the current evidence regarding telehealth's impact on equitable access to care and on quality of care, patient outcomes, and cost. Describes the COVID-19 pandemic-related regulatory flexibilities for mental health and substance use disorder services. Discusses the importance of telehealth on primary and specialty care during the public health emergency (PHE). Offers recommendations for Medicare telehealth policies to promote better outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries and value for the Medicare program.
Additional links: Medicare Telehealth Utilization and Spending Impacts 2019-2021, Webinar Recording
Author(s): Julia Harris, Sabah Bhatnagar, Brady Newell, et al.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Provides an overview of the current evidence regarding telehealth's impact on equitable access to care and on quality of care, patient outcomes, and cost. Describes the COVID-19 pandemic-related regulatory flexibilities for mental health and substance use disorder services. Discusses the importance of telehealth on primary and specialty care during the public health emergency (PHE). Offers recommendations for Medicare telehealth policies to promote better outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries and value for the Medicare program.
Additional links: Medicare Telehealth Utilization and Spending Impacts 2019-2021, Webinar Recording
Author(s): Julia Harris, Sabah Bhatnagar, Brady Newell, et al.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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