Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Surgery
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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Effects of Rural Hospital Closures on Nurse Staffing Levels and Health Care Utilization at Nearby Hospitals
Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
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Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
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Minnesota Chartbook Section 8B Health Care Providers and Service Availability: Clinics, Imaging and Other Facilities
Provides information on availability of physician clinic services, diagnostic imaging services, and freestanding outpatient surgical services in Minnesota. Includes number and distribution of physicians practicing by isolated rural, small town rural, large rural city, and urban location, as well as regional data and state maps on primary care and specialty care clinics, imaging services, and outpatient surgical services.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Provides information on availability of physician clinic services, diagnostic imaging services, and freestanding outpatient surgical services in Minnesota. Includes number and distribution of physicians practicing by isolated rural, small town rural, large rural city, and urban location, as well as regional data and state maps on primary care and specialty care clinics, imaging services, and outpatient surgical services.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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A Qualitative Study Defining Perspectives on Rurality and Surgery From Midwestern Medical Schools
Examines beliefs, priorities, and knowledge related to rural surgical practice among medical students in Midwestern medical schools. Presents responses from a survey of 411 students at 11 schools. Compares responses between rural and nonrural students on topics including rural definitions, challenges and benefits of rural general surgery, and more.
Author(s): Chad Z. Simon, Tasha Sparks Joplin, Zachary Meade, et al.
Citation: Journal of Surgical Research, 302, 906-915
Date: 10/2024
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Examines beliefs, priorities, and knowledge related to rural surgical practice among medical students in Midwestern medical schools. Presents responses from a survey of 411 students at 11 schools. Compares responses between rural and nonrural students on topics including rural definitions, challenges and benefits of rural general surgery, and more.
Author(s): Chad Z. Simon, Tasha Sparks Joplin, Zachary Meade, et al.
Citation: Journal of Surgical Research, 302, 906-915
Date: 10/2024
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Trends in the Health Workforce Supply in the Rural U.S.
Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Interfacility Transfer of Children With Time-Sensitive Surgical Conditions, 2002-2017
Explores changes in the number of interfacility transfers and travel distance for children with four time-sensitive surgical conditions across nine states between 2002 and 2017. Examines whether the changes in transfers and travel distance varied by patients' urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Kyle J. Van Arendonk, Elisabeth T. Tracy, Jonathan S. Ellison, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(10), e2440251
Date: 10/2024
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Explores changes in the number of interfacility transfers and travel distance for children with four time-sensitive surgical conditions across nine states between 2002 and 2017. Examines whether the changes in transfers and travel distance varied by patients' urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Kyle J. Van Arendonk, Elisabeth T. Tracy, Jonathan S. Ellison, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(10), e2440251
Date: 10/2024
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Surgeon and Care Team Network Measures and Timely Breast Cancer Treatment
Presents a study exploring patient-sharing network characteristics associated with delays in treatment for breast cancer patients. Discusses factors that affect surgeon and care team patient-sharing networks that can lead to delays in surgeries and post-surgical treatments. Highlights the role rurality plays in the structure and delays within patient-sharing networks.
Author(s): Ramsey Ash, Bruno T. Scodari, Andrew P. Schaefer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2427451
Date: 08/2024
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Presents a study exploring patient-sharing network characteristics associated with delays in treatment for breast cancer patients. Discusses factors that affect surgeon and care team patient-sharing networks that can lead to delays in surgeries and post-surgical treatments. Highlights the role rurality plays in the structure and delays within patient-sharing networks.
Author(s): Ramsey Ash, Bruno T. Scodari, Andrew P. Schaefer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2427451
Date: 08/2024
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Use of Telehealth to Improve Healthcare Access and Outcomes in Surgical Oncology
Explores the role of telehealth in improving healthcare access and outcomes in surgical oncology. Discusses geographic barriers to surgical oncology interventions how telehealth can help mitigate barriers to access. Highlights strategies to improve telehealth access and adoption.
Author(s): Elliot A. Asare, Lauren Cowan, Tracy Onega
Citation: Journal of Surgical Oncology
Date: 08/2024
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Explores the role of telehealth in improving healthcare access and outcomes in surgical oncology. Discusses geographic barriers to surgical oncology interventions how telehealth can help mitigate barriers to access. Highlights strategies to improve telehealth access and adoption.
Author(s): Elliot A. Asare, Lauren Cowan, Tracy Onega
Citation: Journal of Surgical Oncology
Date: 08/2024
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Survival Disparities in Rural Versus Urban Patients with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Multi-Institutional Study from the US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group
Compares overall survival of 1176 rural and urban patients who underwent pancreatic neoendocrine tumor (PNET) resection between 2000 and 2016, utilizing US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group data. Includes data on tumor pathology and patient management factors. Discusses barriers to care after PNET diagnosis for rural populations.
Author(s): Muhammad Bilal Mirza, Jordan J. Baechle, Paula Marincola Smith, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Surgery, 233, 125-131
Date: 03/2024
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Compares overall survival of 1176 rural and urban patients who underwent pancreatic neoendocrine tumor (PNET) resection between 2000 and 2016, utilizing US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group data. Includes data on tumor pathology and patient management factors. Discusses barriers to care after PNET diagnosis for rural populations.
Author(s): Muhammad Bilal Mirza, Jordan J. Baechle, Paula Marincola Smith, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Surgery, 233, 125-131
Date: 03/2024
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Rural Women Have a Prolonged Recovery Process after Esophagectomy
Examines esophagectomy treatment and outcomes among rural and urban women and men using 2003-2022 patient care data from a high-volume cancer center. Discusses sex-based and geographic disparities in esophageal cancer surgery recovery and care access, and highlights the need for interventions to improve care for rural women.
Author(s): Julia Schroeder, Kiran Lagisetty, William Lynch, et al.
Citation: Cancers, 16(6), 1078
Date: 03/2024
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Examines esophagectomy treatment and outcomes among rural and urban women and men using 2003-2022 patient care data from a high-volume cancer center. Discusses sex-based and geographic disparities in esophageal cancer surgery recovery and care access, and highlights the need for interventions to improve care for rural women.
Author(s): Julia Schroeder, Kiran Lagisetty, William Lynch, et al.
Citation: Cancers, 16(6), 1078
Date: 03/2024
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