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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data

Caregiving in the U.S. 2020
A national profile of unpaid family caregivers. Describes care recipients' living situations and health status, caregiving activities, caregiver well-being, and related topics. Includes information specific to rural caregivers, with comparisons of their experiences in 2015 and 2020 as well as comparisons to non-rural caregivers' experiences. Also offers profiles of different types of caregivers.
Additional links: Fact Sheet: The "Typical" Caregiver of a Care Recipient Living in a Rural Area, Full Report
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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Most Rural Hospitals Have Little Cash Going into COVID
Findings brief exploring two scenarios in which rural hospitals have cash on hand for either 180 days or 7 days, representing the estimate of time the facilities could operate without receiving additional revenue, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the U.S. Features statistics showing median days cash on hand by Medicare Payment Classification, with breakdowns by 7 types of hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals and Sole Community Hospitals.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Characteristics of Counties with the Highest Proportion of the Oldest Old
Policy brief examining the characteristics of communities having the greatest percent of residents ages 85 and older. Discusses documented differences in rural-urban locations in long-term care availability and caregiver supports. Includes a list of counties with the highest proportion of the oldest old, a county-level map with shadings showing proportions of the oldest old, and statistics on county characteristics, with breakdowns by highest-prevalence rural counties, all counties, rural counties, and noncore rural counties.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr, Jonathan Schroeder, Cody Tuttle, Samantha Mills
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Prevalence of Self-Reported Hypertension and Antihypertensive Medication Use by County and Rural-Urban Classification — United States, 2017
Examines self-reported prevalence of diagnosed hypertension and antihypertensive medication use. Includes data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (rural) areas. Also discusses geographic trends at the county level, with maps showing county-level hypertension prevalence and medication use. Highlights higher prevalence of hypertension in the Southeast, Appalachia, and the Great Plains.
Author(s): Claudine M. Samanic, Kamil E. Barbour, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(18), 533-539
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Trends in Subspecialization: A Comparative Analysis of Rural and Urban Clinical Education
Results of a study examining how rural medical education is associated with practice specialization, using data from Michigan State University medical students who graduated from 1974-2011 and who trained at rural or urban campuses. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by rural or urban place of birth and training location and practice specialty with breakdowns by rural or urban campus location.
Author(s): Andrea L. Wendling, Andrew Short, Fredrick Hetzel, Julie P. Phillips, William Short
Citation: Family Medicine, 52(5), 332-338
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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Extreme Poverty Counties Found Solely in Rural Areas in 2018
Examines high and extreme poverty areas by rural and urban county designation. Includes a map showing rural high poverty and extreme poverty counties and urban high poverty counties. Discusses the geographic concentration of extreme poverty in regions with above-average populations of racial minorities, highlighting 6 counties in South Dakota with a large Native American population and 4 counties in Mississippi with historically high poverty rates among African Americans.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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CAHMPAS Financial Data Revisions
Provides an overview of new and revised financial indicators included in the Critical Access Hospital Measurement and Performance Assessment System (CAHMPAS) tool. Discusses the revised indicator framework and provides benchmarks and percentiles for all indicators for 2017 and 2018.
Author(s): Savannah Stallings, Ann Howard, George Pink, Kristin Reiter
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Factors Associated With Perceived Job Preparedness Among RNs: Results From a National Survey
Examines perceived job preparedness by practice location, gender, and professional characteristics among practicing registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice nurses who completed a web-based national survey. Particular focus was on the probability their nursing education adequately prepared them for their job.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Elizabeth L. Crouch, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nursing Administration, 50(5), 251-253
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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Metropolitan/Nonmetropolitan COVID-19 Confirmed Cases and General and ICU Beds
Policy brief analyzing the number of hospital beds and cases of COVID-19 during the period from April 13, 2020 to April 19, 2020, to assess what impact the disease might have on rural facilities. Features statistics for counties with and without general and intensive care unit (ICU) beds, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities ― 19 States, April 2020
Examines COVID-19 cases among workers in 115 meat and poultry processing facilities reported by 19 states. Discusses factors potentially affecting risk for infection, including difficulties with workplace physical distancing and hygiene and crowded living and transportation conditions. Includes recommended changes to address these issues.
Author(s): Jonathan W. Dyal, Michael P. Grant, Kendra Broadwater, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(18), 557-561
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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