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Rural Health Information Hub

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

Bringing Broadband to Rural America
Explores the economic impacts of broadband access in rural areas, including telemedicine opportunities and local business benefits. Discusses challenges related to the broadband infrastructure cost-funding gap and initiatives to expand broadband access.
Author(s): Alex Marré
Citation: Community Scope, 8(1), 1-10
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
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Equitable Recovery and Resilience in Rural America
Reports on geographic, economic, and cultural diversity in rural America, addressing issues of equity, health disparities, and economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers recommendations for local and federal action related to broadband internet access, small business development, and collaboration to support rural economic vitality and equity.
Author(s): Brian Dabson
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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The Digital Divide in U.S. Mobile Technology and Speeds
Report examining the digital divide in access to mobile broadband service for certain populations, including rural areas. Discusses age of mobile and WiFi technology and compiles speed test data to analyze access at the county level. Presents population data based on race, household size, employment, and offers maps of approximate LTE speeds by county.
Author(s): Judith Dempsey, Patrick Sun
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Telemedicine Utilization Report: Telehealth and Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the use of telemedicine to deliver Medicaid-covered services in the state of Minnesota. Describes state and federal telehealth policy waivers and modifications that were temporarily implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses telehealth use by and special considerations for rural populations.
Author(s): Neerja Singh, Julie Marquardt
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Human Services
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Montana Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Bureau: June 2018-July 2020 Progress Report
Report highlights the public health efforts in the areas of tobacco cessation, diabetes and cancer reduction, and promoting physical activity, among other issues in Montana. Compares rates over a two year span and details the programs designed to address them.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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Telehealth Practice Among Health Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, July 11–17, 2020
Reports health center telehealth services based on a July 11–17, 2020 survey of Health Resources and Services Administration–funded health centers. Includes data for urban and rural locations. Discusses barriers that rural health centers face in expanding telehealth, including broadband access, lack of partners, and logistics.
Author(s): Hanna B. Demeke, Leah Zilversmit Pao, Hollie Clark, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(50), 1902-1905
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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How Might Internet Connectivity Affect Health Care Access?
Describes how a lack of internet access may negatively impact access to healthcare. Features data and statistics on internet access, with information broken down by race/ethnicity, age, poverty level, insurance status and type, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan location. Discusses COVID-19 and how social distancing measures have led to increased implementation of telehealth, resulting in additional challenges accessing healthcare among people with little to no internet connectivity.
Author(s): Krutika Amin, Matthew Rae, Giorlando Ramirez, Cynthia Cox
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Few Patients Received High Amounts of Opioids from IHS-Run Pharmacies
Presents an evaluation of the opioid prescribing practices of the Indian Health Service (IHS). Bases analysis on IHS opioid prescribing data, discusses the role of electronic health records (EHRs) in monitoring opioid prescriptions, and makes recommendations to improve monitoring.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Access in Appalachia Concept and Methodologies: Final Report
Provides an overview of the accessibility needs to goods and services - food, healthcare, broadband, education, as well as, customer, labor, and supplier markets - for the people and businesses of Appalachia. Looks at the current research on rural accessibility and economic development. Outlines methods for measuring accessibility, offers an analyses approach using accessibility metrics, and discusses other considerations in long range accessibility planning.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, EBP US, Inc.
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The Complex Geographies of Telelactation and Access to Community Breastfeeding Support in the State of Ohio
Study examining face-to-face and virtual breastfeeding support options in Ohio, comparing access in urban and rural areas. Explores potential for telelactation services to increase access for rural mothers, noting the barrier of broadband service access. Offers maps that represent spatial data on breastfeeding support access and that identify locations where breastfeeding support interventions would have the most impact.
Author(s): Tony H. Grubesic, Kelly M. Durbin
Citation: PLoS One, 15(11), e0242457
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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