This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Urban-Rural Disparities in Interfacility Transfers for Children During COVID-19
Presents a study on the rates of rural and urban pediatric interfacility transfers (IFTs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compares IFT rates from before the pandemic. Breaks down rural and urban data by medical complexity, transfer type, and census region, among other measures.
Author(s): Corrie E. McDaniel, JoAnna K. Leyenaar, Mersine A. Bryan, et al
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 611-616
Date: 06/2023
view details
Telehealth Adoption in Kentucky Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reports statistics and data on the adoption of telehealth, including remote patient monitoring, in Kentucky before the COVID-19 pandemic. Compares rural and urban areas with U.S. averages, and highlights adoption rates in Critical Access and short-term acute care hospitals. Discusses the implications of pre-pandemic telehealth adoption for COVID-19 response in Kentucky.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Blueprint Kentucky
view details
Rural Relocators: COVID-19 and Rural Population Growth
Compares population growth in rural and urban North Carolina in context of COVID-19 using U.S. Census and NC Office of State Budget and Management data. Identifies trends before the COVID-19 public health emergency and during its first and second years, and discusses contributing factors. Presents county-level maps of population change as well as graphs comparing data of rural, suburban, and urban counties, and also provides a table of county-level population data.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: NC Rural Center
view details
Nursing Home Staffing Study: Comprehensive Report
Examines the level and type of staffing needed to promote acceptable nursing home quality and safety. Explores the potential implications and feasibility of increased staffing and costs to nursing homes. Presents four options for minimum staffing requirements and their cost, quality, and safety impacts. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Literature Review Results Table, State Minimum Staffing Requirement
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Impact of the COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate on the Primary Care Workforce and Differences Between Rural and Urban Settings to Inform Future Policy Decision-Making
Analyzes the impact of COVID-19 vaccination mandates on the primary healthcare workforce in rural and urban settings. Examines 2021 survey data from 38 rural and 42 urban clinics in Oregon about issues such as job losses, vaccination waivers, and newly vaccinated staff. Includes data on clinic characteristics and impacts of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate across rural and urban clinics, as well as qualitative feedback from survey respondents.
Author(s): Brigit A. Hatch, Erin Kenzie, NithyaPriya Ramalingam, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 18(6)
Date: 06/2023
view details
Competencies, Training Needs, and Turnover Among Rural Compared With Urban Local Public Health Practitioners: 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey
Analyzes the rural and urban differences in 29,751 public health workers surveyed regarding competencies, training needs, and workplace stressors. Discusses COVID-19 impacts on public health work.
Author(s): Paula M. Kett, Betty Bekemeier, Davis G. Patterson, Kay Schaffer
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 113(6), 689-699
Date: 06/2023
view details
Impact of Higher Payments for Rural Home Health Episodes on Rehospitalizations
Examines the impact of home health rural add-on payments on beneficiary outcomes, specifically on rehospitalizations. Uses Medicare data from 2007 to 2014 to compare rehospitalizations between rural and urban post-acute home health episodes before and after the implementation of the add-on payments in 2010. Discusses the implications of the findings on home health payment policy.
Author(s): Lacey Loomer, Momotazur Rahman, Tracy M. Mroz, Pedro L. Gozalo, Vincent Mor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 604-610
Date: 06/2023
view details
2023 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report
Highlights the rates of pregnancies and births among Minnesota adolescents from 1990-2021, and sexually transmitted infections from 2010-2022. Features sections on variations across demographic groups, adolescent sexual health and COVID-19, and geographic disparities between urban and rural areas, including a county-level map showing counties with the highest chlamydia and gonorrhea rates among adolescents.
Author(s): Jill Farris, H. Olson
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Minnesota Department of Health, University of Minnesota
view details
Oral Health Disparities Through the Lifespan: Challenges and Opportunities
Recording of a June 7, 2023, conference session on oral health disparities as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Conference. Features a presentation from the CMS Office of the Administrator comparing differences in rural and urban dental opioid prescribing to adolescent/young adult and adult Medicaid/CHIP enrollees by patient and county characteristics. Transcript available in the video description.
Additional links: Carla Shoff, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of the Administrator - Presentation Slides
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Pennsylvania Summer Food Service Program Sites, by Rural and Urban County
County-level map showing locations of USDA Summer Food Service Program meal sites, with shadings indicating rural or urban counties.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details