This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Practicing Medicine in Rural America: Listening to Primary Care Physicians
Reports on focus group research and interviews with primary care physicians regarding the challenges of serving rural, low-income patients. Highlights issues related to poverty, healthy food access, mental health, substance abuse, specialty care access, and transportation. Third post in the series "Listening to Primary Care Physicians for Low-Income Patients."
Author(s): Shanoor Seervai
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Premature Mortality from All Causes and Drug Poisonings in the USA According to Socioeconomic Status and Rurality: An Analysis of Death Certificate Data by County from 2000–15
Examines premature deaths from drug poisoning versus all causes by county for various groups of people. Addresses differences by rural/urban location, socioeconomic status, education level, and sex, among other measures. See additional link for detailed tables.
Additional links: Supplementary Appendix
Author(s): Meredith S. Shiels, Amy Berrington de Gonzalez, Ana F. Best, et al.
Citation: The Lancet, 4(2), e97-e106
Date: 02/2019
view details
Opioid Use Disorder: Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities
Discusses challenges rural communities face in providing access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Identifies federal and state strategies to address treatment capacity, including expanding the workforce authorized to prescribe buprenorphine and using technology to provide treatment. Highlights how Scott County, Indiana responded to an HIV outbreak related to OUD by addressing the barriers to care faced by people with OUD and HIV.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Pew
view details
Peer Support Specialists Care for and Connect Rural Behavioral Health Clients
Discusses peer support specialists, trained laypeople in recovery with a mental health condition or substance use disorder, and describes the roles they play as mentors and coordinators for clients with similar behavioral health issues. Features peer support specialist programs in rural Arizona, Michigan, and North Dakota.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Meeting the Demand for Health: Final Report of the California Future Health Workforce Commission
Provides actionable recommendations for developing California's health workforce, addressing rural throughout. Discusses the state's population health, current health workforce challenges, healthcare delivery transformation, and more. The commission was convened by major health philanthropies to develop a comprehensive California health workforce strategy and was composed of state leaders in health, policy, education, and workforce development.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: California Future Health Workforce Commission
view details
How Rural Hospitals Improve Value and Affordability
Issue brief discussing four strategies rural hospitals are undertaking to improve the quality of care and patient experience, while decreasing the cost of healthcare services. Covers strategies on population health, new models of care, telehealth, and workforce programs. Includes multiple case studies and rural program examples for each strategy.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Promising Practice: NC Office of Rural Health Helps Rural Providers Get Connected to HIT
Highlights the North Carolina Office of Rural Health Information Technology (ORH HIT) program. ORH HIT is working to connect behavioral health and other healthcare providers through a state health information exchange (HIE).
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
view details
Rural Report: Challenges Facing Rural Communities and the Roadmap to Ensure Local Access to High-Quality, Affordable Care
Reports on continuing, current, and emerging challenges for rural hospitals working to provide access to healthcare services in rural communities. Includes discussion on policy recommendations to improve access and covers new models of care, reimbursement policies, regulatory requirements, telehealth, workforce issues, and prescription drug costs.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Rural Health Network Thrives on Innovation in Whole-Person Care
Profiles a rural health network in Missouri that includes social service support at four of their clinics. Offers an overview of how the program began, highlights their innovative approaches to addressing community needs, and discusses network sustainability.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
School Meals Programs and Other USDA Child Nutrition Programs: A Primer
Describes how federal child nutrition programs operate under current law, including eligibility rules, participation, and funding. Features statistics including reimbursement rates with breakdowns by rural or urban locations.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details