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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services

Challenges to Public Health Reporting Experienced by Non-Federal Acute Care Hospitals, 2019
Data brief examining public health reporting among acute care hospitals, including rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Outlines challenges with the exchange of electronic health information, such as lack of capacity to exchange electronically, interface issues, and differing vocabulary standards. Compares challenges faced by hospitals by size, CAH status, rural/urban, and independent/system affiliated and offers state-level maps of percent of hospitals reporting specific challenges.
Author(s): Chelsea Richwine, Carmelita Marshall, Christian Johnson, Vaishali Patel
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Use of Electronic Health Records to Manage Tobacco Screening and Treatment in Rural Primary Care
Study examining the benefits of using electronic health records (EHR) in addressing tobacco dependence by primary care providers, comparing rural and urban data from the 2012-2015 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Discusses the utility of EHR and barriers to EHR adoption in rural practices, and offers data tables covering patient characteristics and statistics related to primary care visits and smoking cessation.
Author(s): Jean A. Talbot, Erika C. Ziller, Carly M. Milkowski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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Higher Electronic Health Record (EHR) Functionality Lowers Urban Hospital Costs but Rural Impacts Are Minimal
Examines the relationship between electronic health record (EHR) functionality and hospital costs. Compares the effect of increasing EHR functionality in urban and rural hospitals and by inpatient and outpatient service categories.
Author(s): Claudia Alejandra Rhoades, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Low-Income Households and Communities in North Carolina
Discusses impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on efforts to combat poverty and promote self-sufficiency in low-income communities across North Carolina. Presents excerpts from interviews with community leaders, and identifies takeaways related to the pandemic's impact on individuals, organizational strategies, partnerships and collaboration, and public health. Highlights rural communities and Black North Carolinians throughout, and covers topics including vaccination, internet access, mental health, and more. Provides recommendations for community action agencies.
Author(s): James H. Johnson Jr., Jeanne Milliken Bonds, Allan M. Parnell
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: North Carolina Community Action Association, Urban Investment Strategies Center
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The Action Report: Kansas Power Up & Go
Explores strategies to retain young people and families in rural Kansas. Discusses issues such as child care, housing, broadband, employment with health insurance packages, career opportunities and economic development, cultural sensitivity, and more.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Kansas Office Of Rural Prosperity, The Kansas Sampler Foundation
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Some Digital Divides Persist Between Rural, Urban, and Suburban America
Highlights differences in broadband access and digital technology adoption, such as smart phone, tablet, or computer, between rural, urban and suburban residents of the U.S.
Author(s): Emily Vogels
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pew Research Center
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"You're Going to Have to Think a Little Bit Different" Barriers and Facilitators to Using mHealth to Increase Physical Activity among Older, Rural Cancer Survivors
Study examining the potential of mobile health (mHealth) technology, specifically wearable activity trackers (WATs), to increase physical activity among rural older cancer survivors based on focus group interviews with 21 cancer survivors in New Mexico. Discusses motivation and barriers to using WATs related to peer emotional and informational support, social support, and engaging marginalized individuals.
Author(s): Tamar Ginossar, Heidi Rishel Brakey, Andrew L. Sussman, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 8929
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Telehealth Visit Use Among U.S. Adults
Slide deck presenting survey data on telehealth use, breaking down results by rural/non-rural location, age, insurance coverage, and ethnicity. Addresses telehealth visit purposes, patient satisfaction, and barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Jazmyne Sutton
Date: 08/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organizations: Bipartisan Policy Center, SSRS
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The Association of Broadband Internet Access and Telemedicine Utilization in Rural Western Tennessee: An Observational Study
Results of a study to determine whether broadband internet availability was associated with telemedicine adoption among a rural patient population in western Tennessee. Features statistics including race, sex, insurance type, broadband access, and location with breakdowns by nonrural, partially rural, or rural areas.
Author(s): Jacob K. Quinton, Michael K. Ong, Sitaram Vangala, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 21, 765
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Factors Associated With Use of and Satisfaction With Telehealth by Adults in Rural Virginia During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the use of and satisfaction with telehealth services since March 2020 among 253 survey participants from rural Virginia, and explores the association between demographic and health characteristics, health literacy, internet access, and the odds of using telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns including race or ethnicity, sex, rural or urban location, insurance status, and broadband access.
Author(s): Maria D. Thomson, Abigail C. Mariani, April R. Williams, Arnethea L. Sutton, Vanessa B. Sheppard
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(8)
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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