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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Veterans Health Care: Opportunities Exist to Improve Assessment of Network Adequacy for Mental Health
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Networks (CCN) program and how the VA and contractors develop and maintain mental health provider networks. Describes how the VA assesses the adequacy of the CCN mental health provider networks. Examines the extent to which the VA collects information on the factors that contribute to scheduling timeliness challenges for community care appointments, including for mental health appointments. Presents data on the percentage of CCN mental health claims that were within drive-time and appointment-availability standards between April 2022 and March 2023 by CCN region, rurality, and care setting.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Unlocking Potential: A Call to Action: Collaborative Strategies for Rural Health and Economic Prosperities
Reports results of discussions with economic and community development practitioners in rural and Indigenous communities on the relationship between development, racial equity, and health equity. Identifies strategies related to program implementation and evaluation, cooperation, goal setting, communication, and more.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Nutrition Environment Gaps and Distribution Challenges in Rural Food Pantries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study
Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food pantries in rural areas. Analyzes survey data from 19 food pantry representatives working in California's San Joaquin Valley between August 2020 and June 2021. Examines the consumer nutrition environment in rural food pantries utilizing the Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool (NEFPAT).
Author(s): Kimberly D. Sánchez, Karina Díaz Rios, Denise D. Payán
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 124(6), 713-724.E4
Date: 06/2024
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Voices of Experience: Lay Perspectives on Severe Maternal Morbidity in Appalachia
Highlights the perspectives of 10 rural Appalachian women interviewed about their experiences with severe maternal morbidity, social determinants of health, the healthcare system, and access to quality healthcare. Offers potential interventions based on interview themes.
Author(s): Anna Hansen, Cassidy Carter, Nancy Schoenberg, Carrie Oser
Citation: SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 5, 100410
Date: 06/2024
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Rural and Urban Differences in Disparities in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sexual Minority Populations
Examines substance use, substance use disorders (SUD), and SUD treatment in heterosexual and sexual minority populations. Analyzes 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data with information broken down by demographics, substance use, and large metro, small metro, or nonmetro location.
Author(s): Christina Dyar, Ethan Morgan
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 542-556
Date: 06/2024
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Trends in Patient Perceptions of Care Toward Rural and Urban Hospitals in the United States: 2014-2019
Examines patients' perceptions of care in hospitals located in urban, rural non-frontier and remote (FAR), and FAR areas. Analyzes 2014-2019 data from 6,964 hospitals to rate patients' perceptions of their quality of care, considering factors such as quietness and cleanliness of hospital, communication with healthcare staff, discharge information, care transition, and willingness to recommend hospital.
Author(s): Zhong Li, Vivian Ho, Melinda A. Merrell, Peiyin Hung
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 565-573
Date: 06/2024
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Understanding Rural-Urban Differences in Veterans' Internet Access, Use and Patient Preferences for Telemedicine
Analyzes disparities among rural and urban veterans regarding telemedicine. Utilizes March 2022 survey data from 350 veterans about issues related to telemedicine use, including Internet access, connection speeds, Internet-connected devices, and use and perception of telemedicine.
Author(s): Amy M.J. O'Shea, Mikayla Gibson, James Merchant, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 438-445
Date: 06/2024
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Rural Emergency Hospitals
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program and the statutory requirements for facilities seeking REH designation. Outlines state laws that established REH licensure.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Healthcare Use and Out-of-Pocket Costs for Rural Family Caregivers and Care Recipients in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluates the effect of a transitional palliative care intervention on healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket spending for 282 groups of rural family caregivers and their care recipients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Author(s): Brystana G. Kaufman, Ro W. Huang, Diane E. Holland, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 72(8), 2523-2531
Date: 05/2024
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Exploring Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youths' E-Cigarette Resistance Strategies: Implications for Tobacco Product Use Prevention
Examines strategies to resist e-cigarette use and vaping among predominantly Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) youth attending elementary, middle/intermediate, and multi-level schools in low-income, rural communities on the Island of Hawaii. Provides results of interviews with 69 youths, detailing strategies including overt refusal, explanation, avoidance, leaving, and more.
Author(s): Scott K. Okamoto, Andrew M. Subica, Katlyn J. An, et al.
Citation: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(2), 692-706
Date: 05/2024
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