Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Primary care

Targeted Medical School Admissions: A Strategic Process for Meeting Our Social Mission
Results of a 2018 survey of admissions personnel at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools about admissions strategies aimed at recruitment of students likely to practice in rural or urban underserved areas, or primary care. Features statistics on recruitment and selection activities of medical schools and characteristics of applicants, with breakdowns by rural, urban underserved, or primary care categories.
Author(s): David V. Evans, Andrew D. Jopson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Randall L. Longenecker, Davis G. Patterson
Citation: Family Medicine, 52(7), 474-482
Date: 2020
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Caring for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Primary Care Settings
Report explores how primary care providers can best provide mental health and substance use disorder services to their patients. Discusses the barriers to behavioral healthcare in rural areas such as insurance coverage, workforce shortages, and lack of transportation, among others, and highlights the role primary care providers can play in overcoming those barriers.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Contributions of US Medical Schools to Primary Care (2003-2014): Determining and Predicting Who Really Goes Into Primary Care
Results of a project to determine the magnitude by which primary care output is overestimated and to identify a more accurate way to predict actual primary care output. Features statistics on percentages of medical school graduates who intended to practice and who actually practice in primary care, based on data from 17,509 graduates from 20 campuses across 14 university systems.
Author(s): Mark Deutchman, Francesca Macaluso, Jason Chao, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 52(7), 483-490
Date: 2020
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Engagement with Project ECHO to Increase Medication-Assisted Treatment in Rural Primary Care
Examines a study on the barriers and facilitators to implementing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder between Project ECHO and rural primary care providers in New Mexico. Bases conclusions on post-ECHO intervention interviews with rural primary care providers and discusses external factors that could factor into the implementation of MAT.
Author(s): Julie Salvador, Snehal Bhatt, Rebecca Fowler, et al.
Citation: Psychiatric Services, 70(12), 1157-1160
Date: 12/2019
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Understanding Primary Care Providers' Perceptions of Cancer Prevention and Screening in a Predominantly Rural Healthcare System in the Upper Midwest
Study examining primary care provider experiences and perceptions of using electronic medical record (EMR) systems for cancer prevention. Discusses survey data from 36 primary care clinics to evaluate EMR systems as prevention tools.
Author(s): Daniel M. Saman, Kayla M. Walton, Melissa L. Harry, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 19, 1019
Date: 12/2019
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Challenges in Managing Acute Cardiovascular Diseases and Follow Up Care in Rural Areas: A Narrative Review
Explores the challenges of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) management and follow-up care in rural areas. Details access and workforce issues that make ACS care challenging in rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Sandra C. Thompson, Lee Nedkoff, Judith Katzenellenbogen, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(24), 5126
Date: 12/2019
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Diabetes Prevention Program Sites Compared With Diabetes Prevalence and Ratio of Primary Care Physicians in Texas
Discusses partnerships between the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and state organizations to provide type 2 diabetes prevention education by increasing access to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPPs). Offers state maps that identify the county locations of DPPs in comparison to diagnosed diabetes prevalence and the ratio of primary care physicians per 100,000 residents.
Author(s): Emily Peterson Johnson, Melissa Dunn, Maria Cooper, Nimisha Bhakta
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 12/2019
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Issue Brief: Integrated Behavioral Health is High-value Care
Highlights the advantages of behavioral health integration. Addresses costs and healthcare outcomes and presents several models for integration in healthcare settings.
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Veterans Health Care: Services for Substance Use Disorders, and Efforts to Address Access Issues in Rural Areas
Identifies and compares the differences in the number of veterans, and the expenditures for veterans receiving substance use disorder (SUD) services, and specialty SUD services in rural and urban areas. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies were reviewed, interviews were conducted with agency officials, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data from 2014 to 2018 was analyzed to develop the report.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Diagnosing the Rural COPD Patient: Ask About Symptoms, Use Spirometry
Provides insights on the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), discussing common symptom patterns associated with COPD, spirometry as the diagnostic test for the condition, and tools and resources for COPD patient care.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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