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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

The Crisis in Rural Primary Care
Describes issues facing primary healthcare in rural America including: a declining number of students choosing this career path, low compensation rates, rising malpractice premiums, professional isolation, limited time off, and the scarcity of jobs for spouses.
Date: 04/2009
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Demographic, Education, and Practice Characteristics of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners in Washington State: Results of a 2008 Survey
Describes the background and practice characteristics of advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) who live and practice in rural and urban Washington state in 2009.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Louise Kaplan, Marie-Annette Brown
Date: 04/2009
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Rural Coverage Gaps Decline Following Public Health Insurance Expansions
Assesses how uninsured rates and sources of coverage have changed since the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was enacted. Compares the health insurance coverage of rural and urban residents in 1997 and 2005. Discusses implications for health insurance reform.
Author(s): Ericka Ziller, Andrew Coburn
Date: 02/2009
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Children Don't Receive the Mental Health Care They Need
Examines rural/urban differences in the use of children's mental health services, focusing on how family income, health insurance coverage, and mental health status affect these differences. Attempts to identify the mental health needs of children ages 6 to 17, the percentage of children with an identified mental health need that utilized a mental health service in the past year, and the role of family income and health insurance in determining the use of mental health services by children.
Author(s): David Lambert, Erika C. Ziller, Jennifer D. Lenardson
Date: 01/2009
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Strategies for Suicide Prevention in Veterans
Presents research that explores various veteran suicide prevention strategies and how promising they might be. Strategies include programs for outreach, counseling, and treatment coordination. Addresses the difference in suicide prevalence among veterans in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Paul Shekelle, Steven Bagley, Brett Munjas
Date: 01/2009
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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A Rural-Urban Comparison of Allied Health Average Hourly Wages
Explores the hourly wage differences of allied health care professionals in rural and urban areas. Discusses whether a wage deviation contributes to the health care workforce shortage issues found in rural areas.
Author(s): Indira Richardson, Rebecca Slifkin, Randy Randolph, Mark Holmes
Date: 01/2009
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Malpractice Burden, Rural Location, and Discontinuation of Obstetric Care: A Study of Obstetric Providers in Michigan
Reports on a study that examined whether higher malpractice burden on obstetric providers was associated with an increased likelihood of discontinuing obstetric care and whether there were rural-urban differences in the relationship.
Author(s): Xiao Xu, Kristine A. Siefert, Peter D. Jacobson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 25(1), 33-42
Date: 2009
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The Association Between Rural Residence and the Use, Type, and Quality of Depression Care
Reports on the link between rurality and the preference for using pharmacotherapy, rather than psychotherapy, to treat depression among rural populations. Also examines whether individuals with depression in rural areas receive lower quality care than their urban counterparts due to the lack of mental health specialists in rural areas.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): John C. Fortney, Jeffrey S. Harman, Stanley Xu, Fran Dong
Date: 2009
Sponsoring organization: WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research
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Health, United States, 2009: With Special Feature on Medical Technology
Presents an annual overview of national trends in health statistics. Covers health status and determinants, healthcare utilization, access, and expenditures. Includes data on rural areas - see index under "metropolitan/nonmetropolitan data." 2009 edition includes a section focused on medical technology.
Date: 2009
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Wyoming Primary Care Gaps and Policy Options
Provides an overview of the primary care workforce shortages in Wyoming. Discusses examples and policy options that could be implemented to bolster the primary care workforce within the state. Provides statistics on primary care providers by county and by provider characteristics.
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Mark P. Doescher, Barbara J. Robinson
Date: 12/2008
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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