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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Non-Urgent Use of Emergency Departments by Rural and Urban Adults
Examines differences in non-urgent use of emergency departments (EDs) in rural versus urban adults as well as factors associated with non-urgent ED use. Utilizes 2014-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data to show percentage of adults who utilized ED services, with data broken down by age, mental and physical health status, income, health insurance and primary care access status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Carly Milkowski, Zachariah Croll, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Access to Capital and Credit for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses in Appalachia
Reports on small business, entrepreneurship, and capital supply and demand in Appalachia. Describes regional and national trends, and identifies contributing factors. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, and discusses characteristics and challenges of rural areas throughout.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Disparities in Maternal Health Visits Between Rural and Urban Communities in the United States, 2016–2018
Analyzes data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System between 2016 and 2018 to compare rural and urban differences in prepregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum healthcare access and quality for 103,425 patients in 40 states, New York City, and Puerto Rico. Includes a rural and urban break down of patient demographics, insurance status, and chronic conditions. Discusses the role telehealth may play in closing gaps in care.
Author(s): Burcu Bozkurt, Arrianna Marie Planey, Monisa Aijaz, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 28(2), 36-46
Date: 04/2024
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USDA Rural Utilities Service's Support for Tribes and Other Indigenous Entities
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) programs that help offset the costs of building and repairing utility systems in rural areas. Describes the types of tribal and other Indigenous entities eligible to apply for RUS programs. Highlights two USDA Rural Development authorities that can help tribes and other Indigenous entities access RUS programs. Outlines issues Congress may consider if it chooses to constrict, maintain, or expand the laws governing these programs.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Meeting Essential Health Services And Reimagining Obstetrics In A Rural Community
Case study profiling Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) in rural Washington. Describes how KVH implemented a new staffing model to maintain essential obstetrics and gynecological care.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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With Current Staffing Levels, About 1 in 5 Nursing Facilities Would Meet Fully-Implemented Minimum Staffing Standards in the Final Rule
Describes a proposed federal standard for nursing home nurse staffing levels and analyzes current nursing home staffing levels, noting the percentage of facilities that will meet the proposed staffing level requirements if fully implemented.
Author(s): Priya Chidambaram, Alice Burns, Tricia Neuman, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Evaluation of Respondent-Driven Sampling in Seven Studies of People Who Use Drugs from Rural Populations: Findings from the Rural Opioid Initiative
Examines the efficacy of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit people who use drugs (PWUD) in rural populations. Analyzes 7 Rural Opioid Initiative studies that occurred between 2018-2020 and performs statistical analyses to observe RDS-generated validity in population-level prevalence estimates.
Author(s): Abby E. Rudolph, Robin M. Nance, Georgiy Bobashev, et al.
Citation: BMC Medical Research Methodology, 24, 94
Date: 04/2024
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Evaluating a Web-Based Training Curriculum for Disseminating Best Practices for the Care of Newborns with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome in a Rural Hospital, the NOWS-NM Program
Evaluates the NOWS-NM program, a web-based training program for care of newborns with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) in rural New Mexico hospitals. Describes results of interviews with 16 providers on their experiences with NOWS and attitudes toward local NOWS treatment. Discusses stigma reduction and knowledge of non-pharmacologic NOWS treatment.
Author(s): Heather Pratt-Chavez, Heidi Rishel Brakey, Sarah G. Sanders, et al.
Citation: BMC Pediatrics, 24, 258
Date: 04/2024
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Ten Things to Know About Consolidation in Health Care Provider Markets
Discusses consolidation in healthcare provider markets, including different types of consolidation, trends, benefits and harms for patients and other consumers, key research findings, policy options for increasing competition, and more. Highlights impacts on rural and underserved communities throughout.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Jamie Godwin, Scott Hulver, Tricia Neuman
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Quality in Motion: Acting on the CMS National Quality Strategy
Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2022 National Quality Strategy (NQS). Describes actions CMS has taken to meet the eight NQS goals across four priority areas: outcomes and alignment, equity and engagement, safety and resiliency, and interoperability and scientific achievement. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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