Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
2025 North Carolina Rural Health Snapshot
Presents data on rural North Carolina demographics, health information, and healthcare infrastructure. Offers statistics on issues including food access, income, healthcare coverage, maternal health, behavioral health, housing, internet access, and more. Features a county-level map with shadings showing rural and urban or suburban counties.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, North Carolina Rural Health Association
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Presents data on rural North Carolina demographics, health information, and healthcare infrastructure. Offers statistics on issues including food access, income, healthcare coverage, maternal health, behavioral health, housing, internet access, and more. Features a county-level map with shadings showing rural and urban or suburban counties.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, North Carolina Rural Health Association
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2025 Georgia Medical School Graduate Survey Report
Results of a survey designed to inform policymakers, medical school and graduate medical education administrators, and other agencies about the medical school pipeline, using data from Georgia's 5 medical schools. Provides insight on why medical students chose a specialty and residency site and how many intend to practice in Georgia when training is complete. Features statistics on percentages of students who intend to practice in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Chet Bhasin, Leanna Greenwood, Briana Harris, G.E. Alan Dever
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Results of a survey designed to inform policymakers, medical school and graduate medical education administrators, and other agencies about the medical school pipeline, using data from Georgia's 5 medical schools. Provides insight on why medical students chose a specialty and residency site and how many intend to practice in Georgia when training is complete. Features statistics on percentages of students who intend to practice in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Chet Bhasin, Leanna Greenwood, Briana Harris, G.E. Alan Dever
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Social Vulnerability, Lower Broadband Internet Access, and Rurality Associated with Lower Telemedicine Use in U.S. Counties
Examines how patient characteristics and broadband access are to telemedicine use across the United States. Analyzes data from a random sample of telemedicine sessions held on the Doxy.me platform in 2022. Compares data by patients' urban and rural status, as well as high, medium, and low broadband access at the county level.
Author(s): Mollie R. Cummins, Bob Wong, Neng Wan, et al.
Citation: JAMIA Open, 8(4), ooaf056
Date: 2025
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Examines how patient characteristics and broadband access are to telemedicine use across the United States. Analyzes data from a random sample of telemedicine sessions held on the Doxy.me platform in 2022. Compares data by patients' urban and rural status, as well as high, medium, and low broadband access at the county level.
Author(s): Mollie R. Cummins, Bob Wong, Neng Wan, et al.
Citation: JAMIA Open, 8(4), ooaf056
Date: 2025
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Cumulative Disadvantages in Nursing Home COVID-19 Infections and Deaths: Implications of Ownership Status and Location
Explores how nursing home characteristics are related to different health outcomes and susceptibility to momentary threats in the environment, such as nursing home and community COVID-19 infection rates and staffing shortages. Compares nursing home COVID-19 infection and mortality rates by facilities' profit status and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sungjae Hong, Shannon T. Mejia
Citation: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 137, 105918
Date: 2025
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Explores how nursing home characteristics are related to different health outcomes and susceptibility to momentary threats in the environment, such as nursing home and community COVID-19 infection rates and staffing shortages. Compares nursing home COVID-19 infection and mortality rates by facilities' profit status and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sungjae Hong, Shannon T. Mejia
Citation: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 137, 105918
Date: 2025
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Annual Disability Statistics Compendium 2025
Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Additional links: Annual Report on People with Disabilities in America 2025
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Research on Disability, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
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Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Additional links: Annual Report on People with Disabilities in America 2025
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Research on Disability, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
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The State of Cancer in Florida: CCRAB Annual Report 2025
Reports cancer data and trends for the state of Florida. Highlights rural-urban disparities in cancer incidence and mortality, and discusses the importance of increasing access to screening and treatment in rural and underserved communities.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Florida Cancer Council & Research Advisory Council (CCRAB)
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Reports cancer data and trends for the state of Florida. Highlights rural-urban disparities in cancer incidence and mortality, and discusses the importance of increasing access to screening and treatment in rural and underserved communities.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Florida Cancer Council & Research Advisory Council (CCRAB)
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Association Between Obesogenic Environments and Childhood Overweight/Obesity Across the United States: Differences by Rurality
Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
Author(s): Kara Davis, Demetrius A. Abshire, Courtney Monroe, Caroline Rudisill, Andrew T. Kaczynski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
Author(s): Kara Davis, Demetrius A. Abshire, Courtney Monroe, Caroline Rudisill, Andrew T. Kaczynski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Travel Burden and Bypassing Closest Site for Surgical Cancer Treatment for Urban and Rural Oncology Patients
Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Niveditta Ramkumar, Gabriel A. Brooks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Niveditta Ramkumar, Gabriel A. Brooks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Drive Time to Care and Retention in HIV Care: Rural–Urban Differences Among Medicaid Enrollees in the United States South
Presents a study on the role geography plays in HIV care retention and maintenance. Draws data from Medicaid enrollees in 13 southern states including the District of Columbia and compares patient drive times to care in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by county social determinants of health, healthcare supply, and HIV prevalence, as well as patient characteristics.
Author(s): April D. Kimmel, Rose S. Bono, Zhongzhe Pan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12877
Date: 2025
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Presents a study on the role geography plays in HIV care retention and maintenance. Draws data from Medicaid enrollees in 13 southern states including the District of Columbia and compares patient drive times to care in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by county social determinants of health, healthcare supply, and HIV prevalence, as well as patient characteristics.
Author(s): April D. Kimmel, Rose S. Bono, Zhongzhe Pan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12877
Date: 2025
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Home Health Utilization in the Veterans Health Administration: Are there Rural and Urban Differences?
Examines home health usage and access among veterans in rural and urban areas. Utilizes 2019-2021 Veterans Health Administration (VA) data to analyze rural versus urban home health use, with data broken down by patient sociodemographic variables as well as number of visits.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Bradely Mayfield, Michelle A. Mengeling, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12865
Date: 2025
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Examines home health usage and access among veterans in rural and urban areas. Utilizes 2019-2021 Veterans Health Administration (VA) data to analyze rural versus urban home health use, with data broken down by patient sociodemographic variables as well as number of visits.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Bradely Mayfield, Michelle A. Mengeling, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12865
Date: 2025
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