Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Social Vulnerability, Lower Broadband Internet Access, and Rurality Associated with Lower Telemedicine Use in U.S. Counties
Examines how patient characteristics and broadband access are to telemedicine use across the United States. Analyzes data from a random sample of telemedicine sessions held on the Doxy.me platform in 2022. Compares data by patients' urban and rural status, as well as high, medium, and low broadband access at the county level.
Author(s): Mollie R. Cummins, Bob Wong, Neng Wan, et al.
Citation: JAMIA Open, 8(4), ooaf056
Date: 2025
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Examines how patient characteristics and broadband access are to telemedicine use across the United States. Analyzes data from a random sample of telemedicine sessions held on the Doxy.me platform in 2022. Compares data by patients' urban and rural status, as well as high, medium, and low broadband access at the county level.
Author(s): Mollie R. Cummins, Bob Wong, Neng Wan, et al.
Citation: JAMIA Open, 8(4), ooaf056
Date: 2025
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Cumulative Disadvantages in Nursing Home COVID-19 Infections and Deaths: Implications of Ownership Status and Location
Explores how nursing home characteristics are related to different health outcomes and susceptibility to momentary threats in the environment, such as nursing home and community COVID-19 infection rates and staffing shortages. Compares nursing home COVID-19 infection and mortality rates by facilities' profit status and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sungjae Hong, Shannon T. Mejia
Citation: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 137, 105918
Date: 2025
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Explores how nursing home characteristics are related to different health outcomes and susceptibility to momentary threats in the environment, such as nursing home and community COVID-19 infection rates and staffing shortages. Compares nursing home COVID-19 infection and mortality rates by facilities' profit status and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sungjae Hong, Shannon T. Mejia
Citation: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 137, 105918
Date: 2025
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Comparing Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Machine Accessibility Among Urban and Rural County Hospitals in Wisconsin
Examines radiologic services in hospitals and disparities in access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) machines in rural versus urban Wisconsin hospitals. Provides data on rural and urban counties in Wisconsin, including population, county square miles, available MRI and CT machines, and person to MRI/CT ratios. Includes maps showing county-level access to radiologic services as well as comparisons across Wisconsin's rural and urban counties, all Wisconsin counties, and all U.S. counties.
Author(s): Benjamin Burdorf, William MacDonald, Pravallika Kesarla, Samantha Burdorf
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 124(3), 243-248
Date: 2025
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Examines radiologic services in hospitals and disparities in access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) machines in rural versus urban Wisconsin hospitals. Provides data on rural and urban counties in Wisconsin, including population, county square miles, available MRI and CT machines, and person to MRI/CT ratios. Includes maps showing county-level access to radiologic services as well as comparisons across Wisconsin's rural and urban counties, all Wisconsin counties, and all U.S. counties.
Author(s): Benjamin Burdorf, William MacDonald, Pravallika Kesarla, Samantha Burdorf
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 124(3), 243-248
Date: 2025
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2025 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot
Presents data on rural North Carolina demographics, health information, and healthcare infrastructure. Offers statistics on issues including food access, income, healthcare coverage, maternal health, behavioral health, housing, Internet access, and more. Features a county-level map with shadings showing rural and urban or suburban counties.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, North Carolina Rural Health Association
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Presents data on rural North Carolina demographics, health information, and healthcare infrastructure. Offers statistics on issues including food access, income, healthcare coverage, maternal health, behavioral health, housing, Internet access, and more. Features a county-level map with shadings showing rural and urban or suburban counties.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, North Carolina Rural Health Association
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Travel Burden and Bypassing Closest Site for Surgical Cancer Treatment for Urban and Rural Oncology Patients
Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Niveditta Ramkumar, Gabriel A. Brooks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Niveditta Ramkumar, Gabriel A. Brooks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Association Between Obesogenic Environments and Childhood Overweight/Obesity Across the United States: Differences by Rurality
Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
Author(s): Kara Davis, Demetrius A. Abshire, Courtney Monroe, Caroline Rudisill, Andrew T. Kaczynski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
Author(s): Kara Davis, Demetrius A. Abshire, Courtney Monroe, Caroline Rudisill, Andrew T. Kaczynski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Drive Time to Care and Retention in HIV Care: Rural–Urban Differences Among Medicaid Enrollees in the United States South
Presents a study on the role geography plays in HIV care retention and maintenance. Draws data from Medicaid enrollees in 13 southern states including the District of Columbia and compares patient drive times to care in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by county social determinants of health, healthcare supply, and HIV prevalence, as well as patient characteristics.
Author(s): April D. Kimmel, Rose S. Bono, Zhongzhe Pan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12877
Date: 2025
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Presents a study on the role geography plays in HIV care retention and maintenance. Draws data from Medicaid enrollees in 13 southern states including the District of Columbia and compares patient drive times to care in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by county social determinants of health, healthcare supply, and HIV prevalence, as well as patient characteristics.
Author(s): April D. Kimmel, Rose S. Bono, Zhongzhe Pan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12877
Date: 2025
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Home Health Utilization in the Veterans Health Administration: Are there Rural and Urban Differences?
Examines home health usage and access among veterans in rural and urban areas. Utilizes 2019-2021 Veterans Health Administration (VA) data to analyze rural versus urban home health use, with data broken down by patient sociodemographic variables as well as number of visits.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Bradely Mayfield, Michelle A. Mengeling, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12865
Date: 2025
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Examines home health usage and access among veterans in rural and urban areas. Utilizes 2019-2021 Veterans Health Administration (VA) data to analyze rural versus urban home health use, with data broken down by patient sociodemographic variables as well as number of visits.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Bradely Mayfield, Michelle A. Mengeling, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12865
Date: 2025
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The Uneven Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Rural and Urban Black, Latino/a, and White Mortality
Examines mortality rates and the corresponding impact of Medicaid expansion on Black, Latino/a, and White populations, broken down by rural versus urban location. Utilizes 2009-2019 data of Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATET) estimates to provide statistical breakdowns and graphic representation of how Medicaid expansion has impacted mortality rates for varying populations.
Author(s): J. Tom Mueller, Regina S. Baker, Matthew M. Brooks
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12859
Date: 2025
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Examines mortality rates and the corresponding impact of Medicaid expansion on Black, Latino/a, and White populations, broken down by rural versus urban location. Utilizes 2009-2019 data of Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATET) estimates to provide statistical breakdowns and graphic representation of how Medicaid expansion has impacted mortality rates for varying populations.
Author(s): J. Tom Mueller, Regina S. Baker, Matthew M. Brooks
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12859
Date: 2025
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Trends in and Factors Associated with Family Physician-Performed Screening Colonoscopies in the United States: 2016-2021
Examines factors and trends related to family physician (FP)-performed colonoscopy screenings. Analyzes 2016-2021 insurance claims data from 2,943,900 qualified colonoscopies, with data breakdowns according to patient demographics, accrued charges, region, and urban-rural classification, including large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, and noncore. Discusses the impact of FP-performed colonoscopy screenings for certain populations, including rural.
Author(s): Nicholas Edwardson, David van der Goes, V. Shane Pankratz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2025
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Examines factors and trends related to family physician (FP)-performed colonoscopy screenings. Analyzes 2016-2021 insurance claims data from 2,943,900 qualified colonoscopies, with data breakdowns according to patient demographics, accrued charges, region, and urban-rural classification, including large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, and noncore. Discusses the impact of FP-performed colonoscopy screenings for certain populations, including rural.
Author(s): Nicholas Edwardson, David van der Goes, V. Shane Pankratz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 2025
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