Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care
Post-Hospital Access to Preferred and High-Quality Skilled Nursing Facilities for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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A Comparative Analysis of Visual Field Test Results Using Tablet-Based and Table-Mounted Devices in a Telemedicine Program Set in Underserved Areas
Describes the reliability and comparative accuracy of a tablet-based visual field (VF) assessment compared to the standard Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA) among 253 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients in rural Alabama. Discusses the potential implications of the findings on increasing access to eye care in rural primary care settings.
Author(s): Ellen K. Antwi-Adjei, Thomas A. Swain, Christopher A. Girkin, et al.
Citation: Translational Vision Science & Technology, 15(3), 29
Date: 03/2026
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Describes the reliability and comparative accuracy of a tablet-based visual field (VF) assessment compared to the standard Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA) among 253 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients in rural Alabama. Discusses the potential implications of the findings on increasing access to eye care in rural primary care settings.
Author(s): Ellen K. Antwi-Adjei, Thomas A. Swain, Christopher A. Girkin, et al.
Citation: Translational Vision Science & Technology, 15(3), 29
Date: 03/2026
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Rural Specialty Care for Veterans with the Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions: Fibromyalgia, Migraine, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study on rural veterans' access to specialty care for chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs), such as fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Explores the role of rural residence and primary care site access plays in veterans' ability to receive specialty care for COPCs. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, chronic pain conditions, care site, and provider type, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine Hadlandsmyth, Mary A. Driscoll, Jenna L. Adamowicz, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70132
Date: 03/2026
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Sociodemographic Drivers of Recruitment and Attrition in Digital Neurological Research: Longitudinal Cohort Study
Examines demographic differences in participation in a remote speech capture study with digital recruitment via the Mayo Clinic patient portal system. Includes data on enrollment and completion times by rural or urban area, among other factors.
Author(s): Peyman Nejat, Ashley D. Bachman, Vicki M. Stubbs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28, e83432
Date: 02/2026
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Examines demographic differences in participation in a remote speech capture study with digital recruitment via the Mayo Clinic patient portal system. Includes data on enrollment and completion times by rural or urban area, among other factors.
Author(s): Peyman Nejat, Ashley D. Bachman, Vicki M. Stubbs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28, e83432
Date: 02/2026
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2025-2026 Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review Final Recommendations Report
Reviews the 24 pre-rulemaking quality measures the Battelle's Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) considered during the 2025-2026 Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR) cycle. Discusses measures for clinician, hospital, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Partnership for Quality Measurement
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Reviews the 24 pre-rulemaking quality measures the Battelle's Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) considered during the 2025-2026 Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR) cycle. Discusses measures for clinician, hospital, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Partnership for Quality Measurement
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Willingness of Older Adults to Travel for Medical Care
Presents results from a survey of 2650 adults aged 65 years and older on their willingness to travel for primary care, specialty care, and one-time diagnostic appointments. See Table 3 for metro-nonmetro data comparisons, among other demographic data breakdowns.
Author(s): Jeremy Burke, Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Wei Ye, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2560280
Date: 02/2026
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Presents results from a survey of 2650 adults aged 65 years and older on their willingness to travel for primary care, specialty care, and one-time diagnostic appointments. See Table 3 for metro-nonmetro data comparisons, among other demographic data breakdowns.
Author(s): Jeremy Burke, Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Wei Ye, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2560280
Date: 02/2026
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Geographic Distribution of Gastroenterologists and Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States
Analyzes the geographic distribution of gastroenterologists alongside patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Provides ratios on the availability of gastroenterologists per 100,000 people in the general population and per 100 patients with IBD. Includes data on rurality of gastroenterologists and patients as well as U.S. maps showing their distribution.
Author(s): Navneet Upadhyay, Aisha Vadhariya, Magdaliz Gorritz, et al.
Citation: Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology 17(2), e00953
Date: 02/2026
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Analyzes the geographic distribution of gastroenterologists alongside patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Provides ratios on the availability of gastroenterologists per 100,000 people in the general population and per 100 patients with IBD. Includes data on rurality of gastroenterologists and patients as well as U.S. maps showing their distribution.
Author(s): Navneet Upadhyay, Aisha Vadhariya, Magdaliz Gorritz, et al.
Citation: Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology 17(2), e00953
Date: 02/2026
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Rebuilding Georgia's Rural Pediatric Pipeline: Part One
A podcast episode featuring stakeholders of a public-private partnership in Georgia focused on improving access to pediatric care in rural areas of the state. Discusses strategies such as addressing the rural healthcare provider pipeline, improving access to subspeciality collaboration, providing rural training opportunities for medical students, and more.
Additional links: Rebuilding Georgia's Rural Pediatric Pipeline: Part Two
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Elisa Arespacochaga, Marc Welsh, Jean Sumner
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A podcast episode featuring stakeholders of a public-private partnership in Georgia focused on improving access to pediatric care in rural areas of the state. Discusses strategies such as addressing the rural healthcare provider pipeline, improving access to subspeciality collaboration, providing rural training opportunities for medical students, and more.
Additional links: Rebuilding Georgia's Rural Pediatric Pipeline: Part Two
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Elisa Arespacochaga, Marc Welsh, Jean Sumner
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Telemedicine in Rural EMS: Expanding Capabilities and Scope
Discusses the integration of telemedicine and emergency medical services (EMS) for improving rural health outcomes by connecting EMS with trauma specialists and expanding what is available as prehospital care. Describes the workforce, equipment, and infrastructure needs.
Author(s): Andrew Dreiser
Citation: EMS World, 2026
Date: 02/2026
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Discusses the integration of telemedicine and emergency medical services (EMS) for improving rural health outcomes by connecting EMS with trauma specialists and expanding what is available as prehospital care. Describes the workforce, equipment, and infrastructure needs.
Author(s): Andrew Dreiser
Citation: EMS World, 2026
Date: 02/2026
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Rural-Serving Primary Care Practitioners' and Cardiologists' Care Adaptations for Cardiovascular Services: A Qualitative Analysis
Examines the cardiovascular services provided by rural-serving primary care practitioners and cardiologists. Utilizes interview feedback from 20 healthcare professionals and discusses rural cardiovascular services as related to interprofessional collaboration, expanded scope of practice, altered care, care adaptations, and more.
Author(s): Susan G. Miller, Signe Burchim, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70129
Date: 02/2026
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Examines the cardiovascular services provided by rural-serving primary care practitioners and cardiologists. Utilizes interview feedback from 20 healthcare professionals and discusses rural cardiovascular services as related to interprofessional collaboration, expanded scope of practice, altered care, care adaptations, and more.
Author(s): Susan G. Miller, Signe Burchim, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70129
Date: 02/2026
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