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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Public health

AHRQ Summit to Address Emergency Department Boarding: Technical Report
Report from an October 2024 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) summit to discuss emergency department boarding. Examines some of emergency physicians' biggest concerns and highlights possible solutions to address boarding head-on, including enhancing measurement and standards, re-aligning hospital incentives, and increasing support to empower emergency physicians to do their jobs effectively. Includes sections on rural patients and rural areas.
Author(s): Robin M. Weinick, Sean Bruna, Rachael M. Boicourt, Sean S. Michael, Laura L. Sessums
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Eighth Biennial Report 2025: Health Issues for the State of North Dakota
Updates the previous seven editions of this report with a comprehensive examination of healthcare workforce licensure data related to number of licensed professionals, locations, specialties, and demographics in rural and urban North Dakota. Includes three new chapters on indigenous health, women's and children's health, and the community impacts of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
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A Systemic Safety Study of Pedestrians in Tribal Areas
Examines pedestrian safety risks in tribal areas, identifies high-risk areas that contribute to injuries and fatalities, and provides countermeasures to improve safety. Includes a literature review on pedestrian safety, data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and state/tribal departments of transportation (DOTs), crash analysis, interview feedback from tribal employees, suggestions for countermeasures, and more.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Treasury
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What Cancers Explain the Growing Rural-Urban Gap in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Incidence?
Presents a study comparing rates of Human-Papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers in rural and urban populations. Breaks down data by sex and rurality and tracks rates in 5 year increments from 2000 to 2019.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Whitney Zahnd, Heather M. Brandt
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12915
Date: 01/2025
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Epidemiological Model Can Forecast COVID-19 Outbreaks from Wastewater-Based Surveillance in Rural Communities
Examines the ability of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to identify potential outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in rural communities. Analyzes wastewater in 6 communities and observes WBE's predictive accuracy to forecast SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.
Author(s): Tyler Meadows, Erik R. Coats, Solana Narum, et al.
Citation: Water Research, 268
Date: 01/2025
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Healthcare and Public Health Risk Identification and Site Criticality 2.0 Toolkit (RISC 2.0 Toolkit)
Offers a data-driven all-hazards risk assessment toolkit with self-assessment modules for healthcare and public health organizations, including those in rural areas, to enhance their ability to identify threats and hazards, perform risk management activities, assess vulnerabilities, and improve their security and resilience. Includes a specific cybersecurity module that focuses on the cybersecurity strength of an organization, also known as cyber risk posture, and offers guidance on related policies, controls, and practices.
Additional links: Cybersecurity Module, RISC Toolkit Fact Sheet
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the causes of veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors. The 2025 report is split into two parts. The second part is added as an additional link.
Additional links: National Suicide Data Appendix, Part 2: Report Findings
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Mississippi State Department of Health 2025 Annual Report
Offers overview of public health indicators for residents of the state of Mississippi including mortality, teen birth rates, various health conditions, and vaccination. Discusses regulation and legislative changes, pharmaceutical programs, lab services, public health outreach, rural health and primary care, Health Professional Shortage Areas, and administrative updates.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi State Department of Health
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School Active Shooter Drills: Mitigating Risks to Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health
Examines the impact of school active shooter drills and strategies to improve school safety while mitigating potential student mental health issues. Includes commentary on the impact of active shooter drills on rural schools and differences in community resources, behavioral health staffing, threat assessment teams, and more.
Author(s): Board on Children, Youth, and Families
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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2025-2030 Maryland Rural Health Strategic Plan
Recommends priorities for organizations and programs to consider as they provide health services across rural Maryland. Features a county-level map showing distribution of rural regions in Maryland and includes statistics on Maryland's rural population, with breakdowns by region and rural designation.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Department of Health
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