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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Long-term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, 2015-2016
Describes the supply, organizational characteristics, staffing, and services offered by providers. Gives descriptions of services users, including residents of nursing homes and residential care communities, patients receiving home health or hospice care, and people who attend adult day care centers. Features statistics including distribution of long-term care providers in 2016, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, or other area.
Additional links: State Estimates Supplement
Author(s): L. Harris-Kojetin, M. Sengupta, J.P. Lendon, et al.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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The State of Primary Care Physician Workforce
State-level information describing the primary care physician workforce in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Features statistics including age, sex, training origin, distribution of physicians, percent of state population living in rural areas, and percent of physicians practicing in rural communities.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Robert Graham Center
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Addressing Rural Workforce Shortages and Healthcare Disparities: An Annotated Bibliography
Report designed to inform policy discussions and future publications concerning healthcare disparities and outcomes, the distribution of physicians in rural areas, and the graduate medical education system financing. Also includes sections on rural hospital closures, social determinants of health, and healthcare safety net facilities. Constructed from a literature review, expert-recommended articles, and a search of white and grey literature.
Author(s): Dara Khatib, Alison Huffstetler, Andrew Bazemore
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Robert Graham Center
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QuickStats: Death Rates Attributed to Excessive Cold or Hypothermia Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years, by Urbanization Level and Age Group — National Vital Statistics System, 2015–2017
Bar chart showing metropolitan and nonmetropolitan death rates due to excessive cold or hypothermia by age range for ages 15-34, 35-54, 55-74, 75-84, and 85 and older.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(7), 187
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Do Hospital Closures Affect Patient Time in an Ambulance?
Examines the impact of hospital closures on patient travel time to an emergency department (ED) by ambulance. Uses national data on hospital closures and hospital-based ambulance services and compares rural/urban differences.
Author(s): SuZanne Troske, Alison Davis
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Market Concentration and Potential Competition in Medicare Advantage
Examines competition among Medicare Advantage plans using county-level data on plans offered and enrollment for 2009-2017. Addresses market concentration in rural areas. Discusses the importance of plan competition to keep insurance prices down.
Author(s): Richard G. Frank, Thomas G. McGuire
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Rural Population Trends
Highlights an upturn in rural population since 2011-12 due to migration from urban areas. Looks at variations in rural net migration regionally and by race/ethnicity. Also compares population composition by race/ethnicity in 2017 for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): John Cromartie, Dennis Vilorio
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Diabetes Disparities In Illinois
Examines inequalities between access to Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) locations in urban areas and those in underresourced or rural areas. Includes a county-level map showing Illinois Health Care Centers and CDSMP locations with breakdowns by county diabetes prevalence.
Author(s): Taylor Jansen, Liliana Aguayo, James Whitacre, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 02/2019
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Neighborhood Disadvantage and Chronic Disease Management
Assesses the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and control of blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol in the Medicare Advantage population. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density.
Author(s): Shayla N.M. Durfey, Amy J.H. Kind, William R. Buckingham, Eva H. DuGoff, Amal N. Trivedi
Citation: Health Services Research, 54(1), Part II, 206-216
Date: 02/2019
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Health Services Research Special Issue - Putting Patients First: Today's Disparity Research Leading to Health Equity Tomorrow
Special issue including articles on chronic disease in rural areas compared with urban areas, the connection between all-cause hospitalizations and residence in rural food swamps, patient experience across racial and ethnic groups and geographic areas, access to healthcare, and the impact on rural areas where Medicaid was not expanded under the Affordable Care Act. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural locations.
Citation: Health Services Research, 54(1), Part II
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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