Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Non-Federal Acute Care Hospital Electronic Health Record Adoption, 2008–2024
Explores trends in electronic health record (EHR) adoption among acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2024 using data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on EHR adoption by hospital characteristics, by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Explores trends in electronic health record (EHR) adoption among acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2024 using data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on EHR adoption by hospital characteristics, by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Effect of Health Literacy on use of a Virtual Coach to Promote Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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Making Rural Communities Visible in Artificial Intelligence Through Rural Proofing in Kansas and Beyond
Discusses issues related to rural underrepresentation in artificial intelligence-related health systems and details a rural-proofing policy framework for Kansas to ensure rural AI data collection, design, and governance are taken into account.
Author(s): Ziwei Qi, Tatiana Lin, Ayo Olagoke
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federation of American Scientists
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Discusses issues related to rural underrepresentation in artificial intelligence-related health systems and details a rural-proofing policy framework for Kansas to ensure rural AI data collection, design, and governance are taken into account.
Author(s): Ziwei Qi, Tatiana Lin, Ayo Olagoke
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federation of American Scientists
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Connection for a Cure: How Broadband Access Supports Telehealth Use
Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Describes broadband access, the impact it has on telehealth utilization, and the impact of telehealth on health outcomes. Highlights various state and federal policy measures addressing broadband and telehealth access, the Rural Health Transformation Program, reimbursement, cross-state licensure flexibility, teleprescribing, and emergency medical services.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Advancing Behavioral Health Integration in Community Health Centers: Policy Pathways to Whole Person Care
Explores how high-performing community health centers (CHCs) implement behavioral health integration as well as the policy and financing factors that influence these efforts. Summarizes interviews with leaders from 10 CHCs and six experts on Medicaid, payment reform, and community-based care. Discusses the state of behavioral health integration in CHCs nationwide and the impact of integration across patient populations. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen and sustain behavioral health integration within CHCs.
Author(s): Erin Prendergast, Amy Flowers, Peter Shin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth Fund, National Association of Community Health Centers
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Explores how high-performing community health centers (CHCs) implement behavioral health integration as well as the policy and financing factors that influence these efforts. Summarizes interviews with leaders from 10 CHCs and six experts on Medicaid, payment reform, and community-based care. Discusses the state of behavioral health integration in CHCs nationwide and the impact of integration across patient populations. Offers policy recommendations to strengthen and sustain behavioral health integration within CHCs.
Author(s): Erin Prendergast, Amy Flowers, Peter Shin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth Fund, National Association of Community Health Centers
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Supporting Rural Older Adults in Home and Community-Based Settings: Perspectives from Area Agencies on Aging
Explores the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound. Presents findings and themes from a July 2025 listening session with representatives from rural-serving Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) from five states regarding challenges serving rural older adults who are homebound.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Jessica Machler, Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Explores the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound. Presents findings and themes from a July 2025 listening session with representatives from rural-serving Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) from five states regarding challenges serving rural older adults who are homebound.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Jessica Machler, Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Strengthening Rural Health Centers: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities
Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides an overview of how health centers serve rural residents. Describes workforce and geographic challenges rural health centers face. Includes data on states where rural health centers serve over half of all health center patients in the state. Discusses areas for key investments to strengthen the ability of health centers to serve their patients and communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Pursuing Cultural Competence in Rural Mental Health
Offers best practices for mental health practitioners treating patients in rural communities, particularly through telehealth. Discusses rural culture and stereotypes, patient and provider trust, access to resources, broadband access, and provider burnout.
Author(s): Ashley Abramson
Citation: Monitor on Psychology, 57(4), 74
Date: 06/2026
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Offers best practices for mental health practitioners treating patients in rural communities, particularly through telehealth. Discusses rural culture and stereotypes, patient and provider trust, access to resources, broadband access, and provider burnout.
Author(s): Ashley Abramson
Citation: Monitor on Psychology, 57(4), 74
Date: 06/2026
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Acting Before the First Case: How Southern Seven Health Department Strengthened Measles Preparedness Through Partnerships
Case study highlighting the Southern Seven Health Department's approach to measles preparedness in rural Illinois via partnerships and data-sharing. Highlights topics including access to vaccines and other healthcare services, the role of forming partnerships with schools and other partners, and the importance of trust and communication.
Author(s): Tori Ryan
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Case study highlighting the Southern Seven Health Department's approach to measles preparedness in rural Illinois via partnerships and data-sharing. Highlights topics including access to vaccines and other healthcare services, the role of forming partnerships with schools and other partners, and the importance of trust and communication.
Author(s): Tori Ryan
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Rural Health Transformation Fund: Workforce Trends and Implications for Rural Care
Webinar presenting findings from a review of all 50 state Rural Health Transformation Fund plans, examining how workforce issues are framed, strategies that states are prioritizing, and how telehealth and digital health are reflected in workforce planning. Also explores the challenge of maintaining the workforce needed to support technology-enabled care in rural settings.
Additional links: PowerPoint, Transcript
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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Webinar presenting findings from a review of all 50 state Rural Health Transformation Fund plans, examining how workforce issues are framed, strategies that states are prioritizing, and how telehealth and digital health are reflected in workforce planning. Also explores the challenge of maintaining the workforce needed to support technology-enabled care in rural settings.
Additional links: PowerPoint, Transcript
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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