Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Trends in Rural and Urban Family Physician Teaching of Health Professions Students and Residents
Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, David V. Evans, Janessa M. Graves
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(8), 555-563
Date: 09/2026
view details
Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, David V. Evans, Janessa M. Graves
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(8), 555-563
Date: 09/2026
view details
Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
view details
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
view details
The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
view details
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
view details
Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2026. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2026. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Oregon by the Numbers - Key Measures for Oregon and Its Counties
Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, The Ford Family Foundation
view details
Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, The Ford Family Foundation
view details
Financial Analysis 2025, Rural Hospitals: An Annual Report on the Financial Health of Pennsylvania Rural Hospitals
Provides data on general acute care (GAC) hospitals located in rural counties, as defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Features financial statistics for GAC hospitals from 2022-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
view details
Provides data on general acute care (GAC) hospitals located in rural counties, as defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Features financial statistics for GAC hospitals from 2022-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
view details
North Carolina RHT Program Annual Report - Year 1
Reports on the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in North Carolina. Details the state policy actions, uses of funds, recipients of funds, and progress reports for each initiative funded by RHTP.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Reports on the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in North Carolina. Details the state policy actions, uses of funds, recipients of funds, and progress reports for each initiative funded by RHTP.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
view details
South Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program Annual Report - Year 1
Reports on the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in South Dakota. Details the state policy actions, uses of funds, and progress reports for each initiative funded by RHTP.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
view details
Reports on the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in South Dakota. Details the state policy actions, uses of funds, and progress reports for each initiative funded by RHTP.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
view details
Factors Associated With COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Preferred Sources of Health Information Among Medically Underserved Populations in North Carolina
Results of a study of vaccine hesitancy in North Carolina, using data from 918 participants in 40 rural counties with high Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area scores, who completed a survey in the summer of 2021. Features demographics and other statistics.
Author(s): Celeste R. Gracey, Godwin Y. Dogbey, David R. Tillman, Amy N. Hinkelman
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal
Date: 08/2026
view details
Results of a study of vaccine hesitancy in North Carolina, using data from 918 participants in 40 rural counties with high Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area scores, who completed a survey in the summer of 2021. Features demographics and other statistics.
Author(s): Celeste R. Gracey, Godwin Y. Dogbey, David R. Tillman, Amy N. Hinkelman
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal
Date: 08/2026
view details
Understanding Clinical Preceptor Capacity: A Closer Look at the Physician Workforce Serving as Preceptors - Indiana
Provides information on the role of clinical preceptors and an overview of Indiana physicians serving as preceptors as of 2025. Includes a map showing number of preceptors per county as well as their rural designation.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Brittany Daulton, Hannah Maxey
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details
Provides information on the role of clinical preceptors and an overview of Indiana physicians serving as preceptors as of 2025. Includes a map showing number of preceptors per county as well as their rural designation.
Author(s): Mykayla Moore, Brittany Daulton, Hannah Maxey
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details