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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Washington State's Physician Workforce in 2021
Findings brief describing size, distribution, and education history of the physician workforce in Washington. Features statistics on various specialties with breakdowns by urban, overall rural, large rural, small rural, and isolated small rural areas.
Author(s): Arati Dahal, Susan M. Skillman
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organizations: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies, Washington Area Health Education Center Program
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Growth and Decline in Selected Healthcare Occupations Active in the South Carolina Workforce: 2009/10 - 2019/20
Data brief showing how the number of licensed health professionals actively practicing within South Carolina changed statewide and in the state's rural and urban counties. Features statistics for nurses and physician assistants between 2010-2020 and for all other professions between 2009-2019.
Author(s): Katie Gaul
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium
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Physical, Speech, Rehabilitative, or Occupational Therapy Use Among Adults Aged 25–64, by Veteran Status: United States, 2019–2020
Describes the use of physical, speech, rehabilitative, or occupational therapy in the past 12 months by veteran status among adults aged 25-64. Includes data for large central metro, large fringe metro, medium and small metro, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Peter Boersma, Robin A. Cohen
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Access to Oral Health Workforce Report: Part I
Examines ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in enhanced attrition of the Pennsylvania oral health workforce. Features statistics on Pennsylvania dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists, including number of Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs) in rural and urban Pennsylvania in 2019 and 2021, and county-level maps showing percentage change in licensed dental hygienists from 2015-2021, density of Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners (PHDHPs) and EFDAs in 2021, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Regional Assessment
Author(s): Helen Hawkey, Kelly A. Braun, Lauren Wagner, et al.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health
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Geographic Trends in Opioid Overdoses in the US From 1999 to 2020
Results of a study examining trends in opioid-involved overdose death (OOD) rates in urban and rural counties. Explores OODs due to overprescription of opioids, use of heroin and illicit synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and stimulants in combination with synthetic opioids. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density.
Author(s): Lori Ann Post, Alexander Lundberg, Charles B. Moss, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(7)
Date: 07/2022
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Barriers to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in the Court System: Provider Availability, Provider "Trustworthiness," and Cost
Examines perceptions of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) availability, provider trustworthiness, and MOUD affordability based on a survey of 151 court team members in Florida. Discusses rates of court referral to MOUD treatment in cases involving opioid use disorder (OUD) and notes rural-specific barriers to MOUD referral.
Author(s): Fatema Z. Ahmed, Barbara Andraka-Christou, M.H. Clark, et al.
Citation: Health & Justice, 10, 24
Date: 07/2022
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Identifying Unique Barriers to Implementing Rural Emergency Department-Based Peer Services for Opioid Use Disorder Through Qualitative Comparison with Urban Sites
Study examining the implementation of emergency department-based interventions for opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural and urban areas based on interviews with programs in Indiana's Recovery Coach and Peer Support Initiative (RCPSI). Describes barriers to implementation for rural programs, including issues related to intervention characteristics, logistical challenges, and staffing issues.
Author(s): Dennis P. Watson, Monte D. Staton, Nicole Gastala
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 17, 41
Date: 07/2022
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Chronic Conditions Among Adults Aged 18─34 Years — United States, 2019
Examines prevalence of 11 chronic conditions among adults aged 18-34 years, with data for urban and rural locations. Provides data on obesity, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and other chronic conditions.
Author(s): Kathleen B. Watson, Susan A. Carlson, Fleetwood Loustalot, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(30), 964-970
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Survey of Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Agencies
Results of a December 2021 survey of 389 directors of urban, rural, and mixed Pennsylvania emergency medical services agencies. Features statistics on topics including staffing, finances, changes in providers, recruitment and retention, and strategic planning, with breakdowns by rural and urban/mixed classifications.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Lack of Health Insurance Coverage Among Employed Individuals Increased As the COVID-19 Pandemic Intensified
Line chart showing the percent of workers who lacked health insurance from April 23, 2020 through December 21, 2020, with data for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan self-employed individuals and those otherwise employed.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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