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Resources by Topic: Specialty care

Organization of Endovascular Thrombectomy the Need for a 2-Tier System
Discusses the current state of stroke care and reasons behind establishing a two-tiered standard of care for tertiary healthcare centers and rural hospitals that perform acute stroke care.
Author(s): Mayank Goyal, Kathinka D. Kurz, Marc Fisher
Citation: Stroke, 50, 1325-1326
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
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Examining Urban and Rural Differences in How Distance to Care Influences the Initiation and Completion of Treatment among Insured Cervical Cancer Patients
Study examining rates of cervical cancer treatment for patients in North Carolina, focusing on the role of geographic distance in healthcare disparities. Analyzes data for insured cervical cancer patients from 2004-2013, taken from a state registry. Discusses the differences in time between diagnosis and completion of concurrent chemoradiotherapy between rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Lisa Spees, Wendy Brewster, Mahesh Varia, et al.
Citation: Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 28(5), 882-889
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
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Time Critical Incident Responses: Results from the 2016 Rural EMS Sustainability Survey
Analyzes 2016 survey data to examine how rural emergency medical services (EMS) in Minnesota are trained to assess, manage, and treat patients experiencing time critical events, such as trauma, stroke, ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or sudden cardiac arrest. Includes time critical event statistics for each rural EMS region.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Summary of Activities and Value-Added Services, State Fiscal Year 2018: Quality, Timeliness, and Access to Health Care for Texas Medicaid and CHIP Recipients
Reports on an external quality review of the Texas Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs. Includes rural/urban breakdowns throughout and provides data specific to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Addresses screening rates, access to primary care, specialty referrals, maternal morbidity, and shortages of behavioral health providers.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Geographic Variation in Spatial Accessibility of U.S. Healthcare Providers
Examines spatial accessibility and other factors of accessibility for key physician and non-physician groups, including primary care physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners, and chiropractors in rural and urban locations, using geospatial methods. Population data, Medicare claims, provider location, professional school location, and U.S. Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) were used in the analyses.
Author(s): Keith B. Naylor, Joshua Tooto, Olga Yakusheva, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 14(4)
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
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Challenges Associated with Living Remotely from a Pediatric Cancer Center: A Qualitative Study
Examines barriers related to living in rural areas while receiving treatment in urban healthcare centers for pediatric cancer patients. Shares recommendations to improve care and services for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Author(s): Emily B. Walling, Mark Fiala, Andrea Connolly, Alyssa Drevenak, Sarah Gehlert
Citation: Journal of Oncology Practice, 15(3), e219-e229
Date: 03/2019
Type: Document
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Evaluating Breast Cancer Care Coordination at a Rural National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center Using Network Analysis and Geospatial Methods
Examines geographic access data for breast cancer patients served by a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in New England. Discusses cancer care coordination, physician networks, and care network density (the amount of patient sharing among providers in a care network) to evaluate healthcare quality and outcomes.
Author(s): Erika L. Moen, Nirav S. Kapadia, A. James O'Malley, Tracy Onega
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 28(3), 455-461
Date: 03/2019
Type: Document
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Geographic Access to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants in Pennsylvania
Study exploring access to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants in rural and urban counties in Pennsylvania. Compiles county-level data that represents breastfeeding rates, geographic access to certified lactation consultants, and demographic characteristics. Compares proportions of urban and rural young children who have ready access, presenting that information in relation to nationwide disparities in breastfeeding support.
Author(s): Kristin N. Ray, Jill R. Demirci, Lori Uscher-Pines, Debra L. Bogen
Citation: Journal of Human Lactation, 35(1), 90-99
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
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A Geospatial Analysis of the Impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on Breastfeeding Initiation in North Carolina
Evaluates the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative's impacts on breastfeeding support and practice in North Carolina. Performs a geographic analysis of data from birth certificates between 2011–2014, including births at a participant hospital, county of residence, and whether mothers live in the same county as a Baby-Friendly hospital. Discusses disparities in breastfeeding support in North Carolina, offering county-level maps that illustrate the accessibility of Baby-Friendly hospitals.
Author(s): Abigail Liberty, Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Human Lactation, 35(1), 114-126
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
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Safety of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Use in Children From Rural Versus Urban Settings Receiving Long-term Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy
Presents a study examining the potential complication rates from a peripherally inserted central catheter for children in rural and urban settings. Breaks down patient data by age, race, and distance to nearest trauma center, among other measures.
Author(s): Natasha Beachum, Walter Dehority
Citation: Hospital Pediatrics, 9(1), 51-54
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
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