Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Time is Tissue: How CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital is Revolutionizing Rural Cardiac Care
Podcast episode discussing how CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital in Durango, Colorado, uses a communications platform that connects emergency medical services and pre-hospital providers with patients who are having chest pain and cardiac-related issues with on-call cardiologists.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode discussing how CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital in Durango, Colorado, uses a communications platform that connects emergency medical services and pre-hospital providers with patients who are having chest pain and cardiac-related issues with on-call cardiologists.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Growth of Health IT-Enabled Patient Engagement Capabilities Among U.S. Hospitals: 2021-2024
Describes hospital trends regarding the adoption of capabilities that enable patient access to their electronic health information, including the ability to view, download, transmit, and import data from other organizations into their patient portal; view clinical notes; and access information through apps between 2021-2024. Presents data and analysis by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals, on the percent of hospitals that app-based and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource® (FHIR)-enabled patient engagement capabilities.
Author(s): Meghan Hufstader Gabriel, Chelsea Richwine, Priscilla Owusu-Mensah, Catherine Strawley
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes hospital trends regarding the adoption of capabilities that enable patient access to their electronic health information, including the ability to view, download, transmit, and import data from other organizations into their patient portal; view clinical notes; and access information through apps between 2021-2024. Presents data and analysis by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals, on the percent of hospitals that app-based and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource® (FHIR)-enabled patient engagement capabilities.
Author(s): Meghan Hufstader Gabriel, Chelsea Richwine, Priscilla Owusu-Mensah, Catherine Strawley
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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The Current Landscape of Rural, Remote, and Frontier Mental Health in America
Factsheet highlights a number factors in rural and frontier communities that affect mental health access. Discusses population-based considerations, barriers to access, and education and training.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Psychological Association
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Factsheet highlights a number factors in rural and frontier communities that affect mental health access. Discusses population-based considerations, barriers to access, and education and training.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Psychological Association
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Rural Hospitals and the Rural Health Transformation Program: What Comes Next
Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Blog post discussing the rural health transformation program established in the July 2025 budget reconciliation law. Describes potential priorities for states' use of the rural health transformation program funding. Outlines additional steps Congress could take to help rural hospitals serve their communities.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Implementing a Chatbot to Promote Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer Genetic Screening in Women's Health: Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Screening Adoption
Analyzes perceived facilitators and barriers to a chatbot-based hereditary breast and ovarian cancer screening among 17 women in rural northern region of Florida. Discusses the importance of increasing access to cancer screening in rural areas.
Author(s): Easton N. Wollney, Shireen Madani Sims, Luisel J. Ricks-Santi, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2516
Date: 07/2025
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Analyzes perceived facilitators and barriers to a chatbot-based hereditary breast and ovarian cancer screening among 17 women in rural northern region of Florida. Discusses the importance of increasing access to cancer screening in rural areas.
Author(s): Easton N. Wollney, Shireen Madani Sims, Luisel J. Ricks-Santi, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 25, 2516
Date: 07/2025
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FY 2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule — CMS-1833-F
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2026 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and the discontinuation of the low-wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2026 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and the discontinuation of the low-wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Quickstart Roadmap for a Solo Tele-Nutrition Practice
Guide outlining steps to setting up a solo tele-nutrition practice. Discusses technology selection, workflow design, and patient engagement.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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Guide outlining steps to setting up a solo tele-nutrition practice. Discusses technology selection, workflow design, and patient engagement.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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Evaluation of a Combined Text Messaging and Online Survey Protocol for Giardiasis Case Investigation — Colorado, September 2023–May 2024
Reports on the use of text message–based survey invitations to gather case data from Colorado patients with laboratory-confirmed Giardia infection. Includes data on response levels among rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Ingrid Hewitson, Amanda Tran, Alayna Younger, Rachel H. Jervis
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(26), 424-429
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on the use of text message–based survey invitations to gather case data from Colorado patients with laboratory-confirmed Giardia infection. Includes data on response levels among rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Ingrid Hewitson, Amanda Tran, Alayna Younger, Rachel H. Jervis
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(26), 424-429
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Electronic Public Health Reporting Among Non-Federal Acute Care Hospitals, 2024
Data brief examining public health reporting among acute care hospitals, including rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), in 2024 using data from the the 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on the mean number of public health reporting types completed by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation. Describes challenges hospitals face with electronic public health reporting and electronic health information, such as lack of capacity to exchange electronically, interface issues, and differing vocabulary standards. Appendix Table A1 presents data on the methods used to submit data electronically across four data streams - immunization registry, syndromic surveillance, electronic lab reporting, and electronic case reporting - by hospital characteristics.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Data brief examining public health reporting among acute care hospitals, including rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), in 2024 using data from the the 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on the mean number of public health reporting types completed by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation. Describes challenges hospitals face with electronic public health reporting and electronic health information, such as lack of capacity to exchange electronically, interface issues, and differing vocabulary standards. Appendix Table A1 presents data on the methods used to submit data electronically across four data streams - immunization registry, syndromic surveillance, electronic lab reporting, and electronic case reporting - by hospital characteristics.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America
Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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