Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care
Partner Perspectives of Tailoring Technology-Assisted CBT Depression Treatment for Perinatal People Served by Head Start
Examines the impact of tailoring technology-assisted perinatal depression (PND) treatment to improve mental healthcare access and health outcomes for women. Analyzes qualitative feedback from partners at a rural Michigan Head Start program regarding their perceptions on the treatment content and suggestions for modifications. Discusses challenges and barriers to PND in rural communities and the need for tailored mental health support.
Author(s): Marni J. Rubyan, Addie Weaver, Rana Kanafani, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 19(2)
Date: 2025
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Examines the impact of tailoring technology-assisted perinatal depression (PND) treatment to improve mental healthcare access and health outcomes for women. Analyzes qualitative feedback from partners at a rural Michigan Head Start program regarding their perceptions on the treatment content and suggestions for modifications. Discusses challenges and barriers to PND in rural communities and the need for tailored mental health support.
Author(s): Marni J. Rubyan, Addie Weaver, Rana Kanafani, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 19(2)
Date: 2025
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Comparing Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Machine Accessibility Among Urban and Rural County Hospitals in Wisconsin
Examines radiologic services in hospitals and disparities in access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) machines in rural versus urban Wisconsin hospitals. Provides data on rural and urban counties in Wisconsin, including population, county square miles, available MRI and CT machines, and person to MRI/CT ratios. Includes maps showing county-level access to radiologic services as well as comparisons across Wisconsin's rural and urban counties, all Wisconsin counties, and all U.S. counties.
Author(s): Benjamin Burdorf, William MacDonald, Pravallika Kesarla, Samantha Burdorf
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 124(3), 243-248
Date: 2025
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Examines radiologic services in hospitals and disparities in access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) machines in rural versus urban Wisconsin hospitals. Provides data on rural and urban counties in Wisconsin, including population, county square miles, available MRI and CT machines, and person to MRI/CT ratios. Includes maps showing county-level access to radiologic services as well as comparisons across Wisconsin's rural and urban counties, all Wisconsin counties, and all U.S. counties.
Author(s): Benjamin Burdorf, William MacDonald, Pravallika Kesarla, Samantha Burdorf
Citation: Wisconsin Medical Journal, 124(3), 243-248
Date: 2025
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Measuring Meaningful Outcomes for Adult Hearing Health Interventions: Consensus Study Report
Presents a set of core outcomes and measurements for the evaluation of interventions to address hearing difficulties in adults. See pages 42 and 47-48 for discussion of conditions influencing the prevalence of hearing difficulties in rural areas, rural access to care, and telehealth as a means of providing services in rural areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Presents a set of core outcomes and measurements for the evaluation of interventions to address hearing difficulties in adults. See pages 42 and 47-48 for discussion of conditions influencing the prevalence of hearing difficulties in rural areas, rural access to care, and telehealth as a means of providing services in rural areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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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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Provider-to-Provider Telemedicine for Sepsis Is Used Less Frequently in Communities with High Social Vulnerability
Examines the relationship between provider-to-provider emergency department-based telehealth consultation (tele-ED) and the prevalence of sepsis in counties with elevated social vulnerability index (SVI) scores. Analyzes 2016-2019 data from 1191 patients treated in rural, Midwestern EDs, with breakdowns according to patient, provider, hospital, and county characteristics. Discusses the relationship between SVI scores and tele-ED use.
Author(s): Kevin J. Tu, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Uche E. Okoro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12861
Date: 2025
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Examines the relationship between provider-to-provider emergency department-based telehealth consultation (tele-ED) and the prevalence of sepsis in counties with elevated social vulnerability index (SVI) scores. Analyzes 2016-2019 data from 1191 patients treated in rural, Midwestern EDs, with breakdowns according to patient, provider, hospital, and county characteristics. Discusses the relationship between SVI scores and tele-ED use.
Author(s): Kevin J. Tu, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Uche E. Okoro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12861
Date: 2025
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Closing the Distance: A Qualitative Study to Identify Equitable Innovations for Rural Thyroid Cancer Treatment
Examines differences in thyroid cancer care between rural and urban communities. Utilizes interview feedback from rural surgeons from various states that cover issues such as training, access to medical specialties, telemedicine opportunities, and collaboration with colleagues.
Author(s): Hattie H. Huston-Paterson, Yifan V. Mao, Elena G. Hughes, et al.
Citation: The American Surgeon, 91(4)
Date: 12/2024
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Examines differences in thyroid cancer care between rural and urban communities. Utilizes interview feedback from rural surgeons from various states that cover issues such as training, access to medical specialties, telemedicine opportunities, and collaboration with colleagues.
Author(s): Hattie H. Huston-Paterson, Yifan V. Mao, Elena G. Hughes, et al.
Citation: The American Surgeon, 91(4)
Date: 12/2024
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The Implementation Climate for Integrating Buprenorphine Prescribing into Rural Primary Care
Examines the climate in rural primary care settings to expand buprenorphine access for opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes interview feedback from primary care practitioners in rural Ohio regarding issues such as OUD treatment prioritization, compatibility of buprenorphine prescriptions in primary care settings, and buprenorphine access shortages.
Author(s): Cheyenne Fenstemaker, Elizabeth A. Abrams, Katherine King, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 40, 2879-2889
Date: 12/2024
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Examines the climate in rural primary care settings to expand buprenorphine access for opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes interview feedback from primary care practitioners in rural Ohio regarding issues such as OUD treatment prioritization, compatibility of buprenorphine prescriptions in primary care settings, and buprenorphine access shortages.
Author(s): Cheyenne Fenstemaker, Elizabeth A. Abrams, Katherine King, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 40, 2879-2889
Date: 12/2024
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Behavioral Health Service Use among Individuals Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP Before and During The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Examines behavioral health (BH) service usage changes among Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Compares BH service initiation and treatment before the PHE (2018-2019) and during the PHE (2019-2020), with further data breakdowns by enrollee BH condition and demographic variables, including rural versus urban location.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines behavioral health (BH) service usage changes among Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Compares BH service initiation and treatment before the PHE (2018-2019) and during the PHE (2019-2020), with further data breakdowns by enrollee BH condition and demographic variables, including rural versus urban location.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Suicide Care in Kentucky Hospitals
Provides an overview of suicide-related visits in Kentucky hospitals and emergency departments, recent changes, and patient demographics. Features statistics including percentages of suicide-related visits in 2017-2023 in rural and urban Kentucky hospitals, and a county-level map showing locations of psychiatric hospitals.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of suicide-related visits in Kentucky hospitals and emergency departments, recent changes, and patient demographics. Features statistics including percentages of suicide-related visits in 2017-2023 in rural and urban Kentucky hospitals, and a county-level map showing locations of psychiatric hospitals.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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