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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Public health

Vaccine Hesitancy among Rural Hospitals: The Arrival of a Challenging "New Normal"
Summarizes the results of a survey of rural hospital leaders between March 12-April 15, 2021, regarding COVID-19 vaccination among rural hospital personnel. Explores the percentage of rural hospital employees that have declined a vaccine, are partially vaccinated, and are fully vaccinated; reasons for declining the vaccine; and changing attitudes toward the vaccine.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: The Chartis Group
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CMS OMH Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Webinar
Recording of a May 13, 2021, webinar on resources and strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Includes information on the development of the COVID-19 vaccines, as data on their efficacy and safety. Transcript is available in the video description.
Additional links: Partner Webinar Supplemental Handout, Presentation Slides, Vaccinate with Confidence Fact Sheet
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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PeaceHealth Is Vaccinating Rural America Through Peer-to-Peer Outreach
Describes how PeaceHealth is promoting COVID-19 vaccines among farmworkers in rural Washington. Discusses the role of community health workers and digital media in educating people about the importance of vaccination.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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RHC COVID Initiatives Webinar
Recording of a May 19, 2021, webinar providing an overview of federal actions regarding COVID-19 vaccine confidence, testing and mitigation, and vaccine access specific to Rural Health Clinics. Covers program funding, eligibility, and application processes. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Pain in the Nation: Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Epidemics - Special Feature: COVID-19 and Trauma
Explores the effect the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent trauma it has had on rates of suicide and alcohol- and drug-induced deaths across the nation. Breaks down data by a number of indicators, such as by age and rural versus urban location.
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Between Urban and Rural Counties — United States, December 14, 2020–April 10, 2021
Examines rural and urban vaccination coverage among adults 18 years and older, with data for each state, excluding Hawaii and 8 California counties. Includes data by sex and by age group for those 18-64 and those 65 and older. Discusses vaccination coverage differences.
Author(s): Bhavini Patel Murthy, Natalie Sterrett, Daniel Weller, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(20), 759-764
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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April 2021 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2021 meeting. Covers Medicare's skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program and proposed replacement, streamlining CMS's portfolio of alternative payment models, rebalancing the Medicare Advantage benchmark policy, revising Medicare's indirect medical education payments to better reflect teaching hospital costs, Medicare vaccine coverage and payment, and improving Medicare's policies for separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of training rural physicians, among other rural references.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Childhood Immunization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Texas
Examines childhood vaccination in Texas, comparing rates between May 2010 and May 2020 for rural and urban counties using data from the Texas Immunization Registry. Discusses trends in immunization rates in relation to the risk of vaccine-preventable disease infections.
Author(s): Tasmiah Nuzhath, Kobi V. Ajayi, Qiping Fan, et al.
Citation: Vaccine, 39(25), 3333–3337
Date: 04/2021
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Successful COVID-19 Messaging in Rural Communities
April 20, 2021 webinar in which West Virginia commissioner and state health officer Dr. Ayne Amjad and West Virginia University School of Medicine professor Dr. Lisa Costello present insights from their research and vaccine outreach campaign to West Virginia communities. Includes an audience question and answer session. Transcript available by clicking the More tab in the description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Public Health Communications Collaborative
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Broadband in Rural America: Faster Speeds for Home and Healthcare
Highlights the importance of rural broadband infrastructure for access to telehealth, patient portals, and other services. Features a Colorado countywide broadband program, Alabama telehealth services provided via county health departments, and a program providing healthcare access to rural veterans in Kentucky.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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