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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Arizona Health Workforce Profile: Direct Care Workers (DCWs)
Brief examining the direct care workforce in Arizona, including a breakdown of home health and personal aides, Nursing Assistants, and Licensed Practical Nurses by small, medium, and large counties. Uses data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Author(s): B. Koch, S. Coates, C. Drake, D. Derksen
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Traumatic Brain Injury: A Roadmap for Accelerating Progress
Provides an overview of traumatic brain injury (TBI) research. Offers recommendations to accelerate research progress and improve TBI care. Chapter 3 includes a section on TBI outcomes and access to care in rural compared to urban areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on Accelerating Progress in Traumatic Brain Injury Research and Care
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Community-Based Medication Disposal Pilot Initiative in Southwest Tribal Communities
Describes a public health pilot project testing a community-based prescription drug disposal system in tribal communities to increase awareness about the dangers of prescription drug accumulation in the home resulting in misuse and use of prescription drugs, and to improve drug disposal practices. Project provided drug deactivation bags for in-home use, and medication drop boxes were available in 29 healthcare facilities in mostly rural areas of Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada and Oklahoma.
Author(s): Isaac Ampadu, Robert Morones, Andrea Tsatoke, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 8(Suppl 2), 67
Date: 12/2021
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Literature Review on Differences in Care Provided in Urban and Rural Nursing Homes in the United States
Summarizes results of a review of peer-reviewed research on differences in rural and urban nursing home care quality. Covers access to mental health services and supports, hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths, and hospice care utilization. Highlights implications for future research.
Author(s): Denise D. Quigley, Leah V. Estrada, Gregory L. Alexander, Andrew Dick, Patricia W. Stone
Citation: Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(12), 48-56
Date: 12/2021
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Trends in Racial, Ethnic, Sex, and Rural-Urban Inequities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage: 2009-2018
Presents an analysis of historical trends in inequities by race and ethnicity, sex, and rural-urban residence among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans nationwide. Uses patient experience and clinical care measures to examine how inequities in healthcare have changed between 2009 and 2018, how scores for each beneficiary group have changed over time, and which inequities remained in 2018.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
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Association Between Area-Level Socioeconomic Deprivation and Diabetes Care Quality in US Primary Care Practices
Results of a study examining the association between deprived and rural areas and optimal diabetes care, using data from patients who received care at Mayo Clinic or Mayo Clinic Health System primary care practices in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin in 2019. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, rural, and highly rural areas.
Author(s): Shaheen Shiraz Kurani, Michelle A. Lampman, Shealeigh A. Funni, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(12), e2138438
Date: 12/2021
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2021 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Disparities in the Use of In-Person and Telehealth Primary Care Among High- and Low-Risk Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19
Study examining telehealth and in-person primary care for low-risk and high-risk Medicare beneficiaries, assessing telehealth's ability to compensate for fewer in-person clinical visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes rural and urban differences in health risk and telehealth utilization. Analyzes data from Medicare beneficiaries from an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) in Wisconsin.
Author(s): Ying Jessica Cao, Dandi Chen, Yao Liu, Maureen Smith
Citation: Journal of Patient Experience, 8, 1-10
Date: 12/2021
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COVID-19 National Emergency: Early Trends in Hospitalizations for Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program Health Conditions and 30-Day Readmission Rates
Provides an overview of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Describes monthly trends in hospitalizations of Medicare beneficiaries for HRRP conditions before and after the implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures through September 30, 2020. Examines how monthly trends in unadjusted 30-day readmission rates before and after implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures and how these rates differ by selected sociodemographic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses policy opportunities and interventions to enhance post-discharge follow-up and reduce readmission rates.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Evaluating the Impact of Dentists' Personal Characteristics on Workforce Participation
Describes the personal, practice, and family characteristics of dentists by sex, and discusses the differences in employment participation that might impact service delivery over time. Features statistics including employment/ownership status, hours worked, wage income, commuting time, and location of work. Includes a section on urban or rural practice location.
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Simona Surdu, Sai Sindhura Gundavarapu, Shabnam Seyedzadeh Sabounchi
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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