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Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Practice Rurality of Family Physicians Enrolled in a Practice Transformation Network
An analysis of the enrollment of small and rural practices in the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI), supporting nationwide, collaborative and peer-based learning, to determine if a greater proportion of rural practices are enrolled in Practice Transformation Networks (PTNs) than are found among non-enrolled practices. In addition, the analysis includes the enrollment of family physicians across states and PTNs. Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA, version 2.0) codes were used to determine rurality. TCPI enrollment variation within rural practices is discussed.
Author(s): Robert L. Phillips, Elizabeth M. Bishop, Lars E. Peterson, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 31(6), 952-956
Date: 11/2018
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Comparison of Dermatologist Density Between Urban and Rural Counties in the United States
Evaluates the longitudinal trends, and demographic and environmental factors associated with the rural and urban distribution of dermatologists using 1995-2013 county-level data from the Area Health Resources File.
Author(s): Hao Feng, Juliana Berk-Krauss, Paula W. Feng, et al.
Citation: JAMA Dermatology, 154(11), 1265-1271
Date: 11/2018
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Variations in Support for Secondhand Smoke Restrictions Across Diverse Rural Regions of the United States
Surveys the support of secondhand smoke restrictions among rural and urban people across all of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regions. Explores the attitudes of people pertaining to smoking regulations in various locations, such as in homes, bars, and playgrounds, among others.
Author(s): Frances A. Stillman, Erin Tanenbaum, Mary Ellen Wewers, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 116, 157-165
Date: 11/2018
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Motivators, Barriers, and Facilitators to Traveling to the Safest Hospitals in the United States for Complex Cancer Surgery
Results of a nationally representative survey conducted in January 2018, in which 1,016 adults were asked what factors they would consider when deciding whether to seek cancer treatment at their local hospital or at a specialized facility an hour or more away from their home. Table 1 features demographic information including breakdowns by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan residence.
Author(s): Benjamin J. Resio, Alexander S. Chiu, Jessica R. Hoag, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 1(7)
Date: 11/2018
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Electronic Health Record Adoption and Interoperability Among U.S. Skilled Nursing Facilities and Home Health Agencies in 2017
Presents data for home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities describing their use of health information technology (HIT) in 2017. Includes statistics on electronic health record (EHR) adoption and interoperability. Covers information telehealth use in home health agencies by rural versus urban location and ownership type.
Author(s): JaWanna Henry, Yuriy Pylypchuk, Vaishali Patel
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Private Health Insurance in Georgia
Describes trends in private health insurance coverage in Georgia. Addresses the demographics of who is covered, cost, and whether it is purchased individually or obtained through an employer. Highlights differences between rural and urban areas.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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The Rural Hospital and Health System Affiliation Landscape - A Brief Review
Describes choices available to rural hospitals and health systems when considering affiliations with urban-based hospitals, examines motivations for these affiliations, and presents a list of some affiliation structures with examples. Features statistics showing trends in hospital system affiliation by census region from 2007-2016, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan hospitals and nonmetropolitan Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Onyinye Oyeka, Fred Ullrich, A. Clinton MacKinney, Joseph Lupica, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Sources of Supplemental Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries in 2016
Examines sources of supplemental coverage for traditional Medicare beneficiaries with breakdowns by race/ethnicity, income, rural location, and more.
Author(s): Juliette Cubanski, Anthony Damico, Tricia Neuman, Gretchen Jacobson
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999-2017
Reports on trends in suicide mortality from 1999 through 2017. Includes data by urbanization level of the decedent's county of residence, with information for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties.
Author(s): Holly Hedegaard, Sally C. Curtin, Margaret Warner
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Significant Vulnerabilities Exist in the Hospital Wage Index System for Medicare Payments
Reports on 41 examinations of wage data of individual acute care hospitals from 2004 to 2017 to describe significant vulnerabilities observed in the wage index system for Medicare payments. Includes discussion on the rural floor wage index and the effects it has on wage index accuracy. Offers recommendations to reform the hospital wage index system.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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