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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural definitions

Rural Pennsylvania: Where Is It Anyway?
A discussion of the many rural definitions used for the administration of public programming and research in regard to Pennsylvania. Includes county level maps for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Metropolitan-Non-Metropolitan; U.S. Census Bureau; RUCA Codes; and Center for Rural Pennsylvania county, municipality, and school district definitions.
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
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Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) 2010 Census Tracts - Minnesota
Identifies county-level data in Minnesota by one of the 4 Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) categories: urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated.
Date: 01/2014
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Metropolitan and Micropolitan Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs): Office of Management and Budget CBSA Designations by County, 2013
Map of the U.S. delineating the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) metropolitan and micropolitan core based statistical areas (CBSAs) by county for 2013.
Date: 2014
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Metropolitan and Micropolitan Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs): Office of Management and Budget CBSA Designations by County (Puerto Rico included), 2013
Map of the U.S. delineating the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) metropolitan and micropolitan core based statistical areas (CBSAs) by county and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico for 2013.
Date: 2014
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Metropolitan and Micropolitan Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs): Office of Management and Budget CBSA Designations by County, 2013 and 2009
Maps of the U.S. delineating the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) metropolitan and micropolitan core based statistical areas (CBSAs) by county for the years 2013 and 2009.
Date: 2014
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Rural Residence and Cancer Outcomes in the US: Issues and Challenges
Analyzes the current literature regarding outcomes of cancer patients who live in rural locations. Discusses several methods of defining rural.
Author(s): Ashley Meilleur, S.V. Subramanian, Jesse J. Plascak, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 22(10), 1657-1667
Date: 10/2013
Type: Document
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Special Commission on Rural Access and Improving State-Sponsored Services in Massachusetts Rural Communities
A report to the governor and the general court of the state of Massachusetts detailing the conditions affecting rural health and the goals to improve the quality of life for rural residents in the state. Offers recommendations to strengthen rural health service delivery in the state focusing on access, workforce planning, technology, service delivery, and policies.
Date: 08/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services
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What Is Rural in the WWAMI States? Why Definitions Matter
Discusses the multiple definitions of rural. Describes the impacts of using differing definitions in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman, Davis G. Patterson, Denise M. Lishner, Mark P. Doescher, Meredith A. Fordyce
Date: 07/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Report on the Definition of "Rural"
Discusses the various definitions of the term "rural" and "rural area" that are used to describe programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. Describes the effects of various definitions on USDA Rural Development programs. Recommends ways to better target funds provided through rural development programs.
Date: 02/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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The Utility of Rural and Underserved Designations in Geospatial Assessments of Distance Traveled to Healthcare Services: Implications for Public Health Research and Practice
Reviews different definitions and designations of rurality in relation to resident characteristics in a sample of 8 central Texas counties. Discusses the impact that rural definitions can have on research findings and health policy.
Author(s): Matthew Lee Smith, Justin B. Dickerson, Monica L. Wendel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2013, 960157
Date: 2013
Type: Document
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