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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Rural and Urban Hospital Characteristics by Obstetric Service Provision Status, 2010-2018
Illustrates the differences between urban and rural hospitals providing obstetric (OB) services. Compares them by size, capacity, location, and community characteristics, and compares these factors between rural hospitals with OB units and those that had discontinued services during the study period. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Additional links: Characteristics of Rural and Urban U.S. Hospitals Based on Obstetric Services
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Lindsay K. Admon, Mariana S. Tuttle, Bridget Basile Ibrahim, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Care Systems COVID-19 Impact Assessment: Lessons Learned and Compelling Needs
Explores the clinical and public health responses and experiences of hospitals and health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents policy actions and policy considerations to leverage the lessons of the pandemic to improve health system financing, infrastructure, and coordination. Includes information on challenges and priority areas for consideration for rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Jeffrey Balser, Jaewon Ryu, Michelle Hood, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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The Opioid Epidemic: A Geography in Two Phases
Examines population and geographic data on 2 phases of the U.S. opioid epidemic. Examines the association between overdose deaths and chronic pain, physical disability rates, and economic hardship. Discusses the shift from overdose mortality associated with prescription opioids to illicit and synthetic opioids in the early 2010s, including in rural areas and the Northeastern U.S.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): David A. McGranahan, Timothy S. Parker
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Use of Selected Recommended Clinical Preventive Services — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2018
Examines use of 10 recommended clinical preventive services: colon cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, breast cancer screening, HIV testing, pneumococcal vaccination, influenza vaccination, diabetes screening, HPV vaccination, zoster (shingles) vaccination, and tetanus vaccination. Includes data for urban and rural counties, as well as the urban to rural prevalence ratio.
Author(s): Suhang Song, Allison White, James E. Kucik
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(13), 461-466
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Addressing Opioid-Related Outcomes among Individuals with Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Conditions: An Environmental Scan of Quality Measures
Presents the results of an environmental scan of healthcare quality measures relevant to addressing polysubstance use among individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Includes information on access to buprenorphine providers in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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A Cross-sectional Analysis of Trust of Information and COVID-19 Preventative Practices among People with Disabilities
Analyzes the level of trust in information sources about COVID-19 and associated compliance to COVID-19 public health recommendations among people with disabilities. Examines data by respondents' demographics, including age, geography, and type of disability, in addition to the type of information source.
Author(s): Catherine Ipsen, Andrew Myers, Rayna Sage
Citation: Disability and Health Journal, 14(2), 101062
Date: 04/2021
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Rural-Urban Earnings Gap by Educational Attainment, 2019
Chart showing the gap in median earnings between rural and urban adults age 25 and older with different levels of education. Uses data from the 2019 American Community Survey.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Virtual Care Expansion in the Veterans Health Administration during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Services and Patient Characteristics Associated with Utilization
Presents results of a study of virtual care use in the Veterans Health Administration during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports statistics for previous and current virtual care use, method of care delivery, and type of care. Compares demographic groups, including urban, rural, and highly rural veterans, and identifies factors associated with virtual care use.
Author(s): Jacqueline M. Ferguson, Josephine Jacobs, Maria Yefimova, et al
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(3), 453-462
Date: 03/2021
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Expanding Access to Methadone Treatment in Ohio Through Federally Qualified Health Centers and a Chain Pharmacy: A Geospatial Modeling Analysis
Examines the provision of methadone at opioid treatment programs (OTP) in Ohio. Compares how well existing OTPs meet the need for opioid use disorder treatment by urban-rural classification. Explores how expanding methadone administration to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) could expand access to OUD treatment in urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Suzan Iloglu, Paul J. Joudrey, Emily A. Wong, Thomas A. Thornhill, Gregg Gonsalves
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 220, 108534
Date: 03/2021
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2021 Idaho Primary Care Needs Assessment
Identifies Idaho communities with the greatest unmet healthcare needs, disparities, and healthcare workforce shortages, and discusses key barriers to accessing preventive and primary care services. Includes sections on Health Professional Shortage Areas, Medically Underserved Areas and Populations, the Idaho State Loan Repayment Program, the Rural Physician Incentive Program, primary care educational opportunities, and advanced medical training programs in Idaho. Features maps showing urban, rural, and frontier areas, locations of Rural Health Clinics, and locations of Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Alex Prado
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care
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