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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care

Effect of Travel Distance and Rurality of Residence on Initial Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in VA Primary Care Patient with Cirrhosis
Highlights a study on the effect of travel distance on hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance for veterans with cirrhosis who are being treated by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Merges VHA and CMS data and breaks it down by demographics and travel distance to both VA and non-VA medical centers and the patients' primary care providers, among other measures.
Author(s): Yolanda Rodriguez Villalvazo, Jennifer S. McDanel, Lauren A. Beste, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 55(1), 103-112
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Potentially Avoidable Inter-Facility Transfer from Veterans Health Administration Emergency Departments: A Cohort Study
Presents a study on potentially avoidable inter-facility transfers within Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Details patient characteristics, such as rurality of residence and age, as well as transfer location characteristics, such as number of beds and median length of stay, among other factors.
Author(s): Nicholas M. Mohr, Chaorong Wu, Michael J. Ward, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 20,110
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Cancer Surveillance and Access to Care in Rural America
Webinar recording discusses a study on access to cancer care in rural areas nationally and in South Carolina. Analyzes travel distance to receive care for colorectal and cervical cancer care across the country and compares it to data on access to colorectal cancer care in South Carolina.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Webinar Transcript
Date: 02/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center), Rural Health Research Gateway
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Prevalence of Children Aged 3-17 Years With Developmental Disabilities, by Urbanicity: United States, 2015-2018
Results of a study examining geographic disparities in diagnoses of developmental disabilities and use of related services. Features statistics with breakdowns by prevalence of various conditions and by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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January 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) January 2020 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services, physician and other health professional services, outpatient dialysis services and improving the ESRD payment system, skilled nursing facility services, home health agency services, long-term care hospital services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, hospice services, and ambulatory surgical center services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Geographic Disparities Affect Access to Buprenorphine Services for Opioid Use Disorder
Results of a national study to determine the patient capacity of healthcare providers who received waivers to prescribe buprenorphine and the extent to which they were located in rural or urban areas with high rates of opioid abuse. Features 2018 county-level maps showing rates of patient capacity and counties with high need for treatment services.
Author(s): Christi A. Grimm
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Introducing the L.A.U.N.C.H Collaborative
Describes the Linking & Amplifying User-Centered Networks through Connected Health (L.A.U.N.C.H.) demonstration project, based in Appalachian Kentucky and aimed at preventing cancer and removing obstacles faced by cancer patients in rural and underserved areas, through improvements in broadband access.
Author(s): F. Douglas Scutchfield, Kevin Patrick
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 2(1), 1-5
Date: 2020
Type: Document
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Access to Specialty Healthcare in Urban Versus Rural US Populations: A Systematic Literature Review
Surveys research between January 2013 – August 2018 on healthcare access, seeking clear definition and understanding of barriers to specialty care. Draws data from 67 peer-reviewed articles, presenting a conceptual framework based on common themes. Discusses issues of availability, perception, policy, stigma, and other access factors.
Author(s): Melissa E. Cyr, Anna G. Etchin, Barbara J. Guthrie, James C. Benneyan
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 19, 974
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Access to Specialty Care for Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Communities
Findings from a voluntary online survey conducted in 2019 of 111 Rural Health Clinic (RHC) staff, from 27 states, to identify the most difficult specialty healthcare service to access, and why it is the most difficult to access. Conducts an analysis of RHC distance to the nearest hospital or clinic to determine variation in difficulty accessing specialty services.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Hannah Neprash, Carrie Henning-Smith, Mariana S. Tuttle, Ashley M. Hernandez
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Value Initiative Members in Action: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center - Lebanon, N.H
Describes how the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center partners with rural and community hospitals to provide telehealth specialty care services across northern New England through the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Connected Care program. Discusses clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction with the telehealth programs. Examines how telehealth services impact staffing and services offered in small and rural hospitals.
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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