Kentucky Resources

Charting a Path to Comprehensive Healthcare for Rural Veterans, with Matt Coleman and James VanCleave
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Matt Coleman, Director of the Kentucky State Office of Rural Health, and James VanCleave, Rural Project Manager, Veterans Services for the KORH. Focuses on their work helping veterans access services and receive care and benefits from the VA and other providers.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Increasing Vaccine Confidence in Rural Communities of South-Central Kentucky
Provides educational resources, data, and advice for community leaders and healthcare professionals to promote vaccine confidence in rural south-central Kentucky. The included toolkit provides in-depth discussion of rural attitudes toward vaccination, strategies for effective communication, and information on rural vaccination disparities.
Additional links: Getting to "YES" for Routine Vaccines: A Toolkit to Increase Vaccine Confidence for Rural Communities in Kentucky
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Lung Association
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2024 Workforce Survey Report: The Status of Kentucky's Hospital Workforce
Provides an in-depth look at non-physician direct care positions in inpatient or hospital-related outpatient departments in Kentucky as of 2023. Includes statistics on vacancies, benefits, and pay, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Maik Schutze
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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Community-Level Factors and their Associations with Changing Opioid Overdose Fatality Rates in Kentucky, 2019–2021
Identifies associations between community-level factors and opioid overdose fatality rates in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties, and examines how these associations have changed from 2019 to 2021. Discusses societal changes that occurred due to COVID-19, including social isolation, and which may be linked to an increase in overdose deaths. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, adjacent-to-metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Shawn R. Nigam, Philip M. Westgate, Svetla Slavova, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Katherine L. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 90-115
Date: 07/2024
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Feasibility and Efficacy of a Novel Audiovisual Tool to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening among Rural Appalachian Kentucky Adults
Examines an audiovisual tool to improve understanding of fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) directions and assesses the tool's feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy in an Appalachian population of Kentucky. Utilizes survey data and focus group feedback from 692 individuals to examine FIT completion. Discusses colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality and strategies to improve screening.
Author(s): Aaron J. Kruse-Diehr, Derek Cegelka, Elizabeth Holtsclaw, et al.
Citation: Public Health, 12
Date: 07/2024
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Rural Community Health Worker Programs: Proving Value and Finding Sustainability
Features four rural healthcare organizations describing the impact of their community health worker (CHW) programs and strategies for sustaining them. Discusses CHW roles, activities, reimbursement options, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Social Induction via a Social Behavioral Intervention on Changes in Metabolic Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Rural Appalachia, United States
Examines the effects of a social network intervention on metabolic health in rural, Appalachian Kentucky. Presents data of 301 participants, including data on change in body weight, waist circumference, mean arterial blood pressure, and other cardiovascular and metabolic health indicators. Evaluates the relationship between social networks, health behaviors, and physical health outcomes.
Author(s): Eric L. Ding, Kathleen T. Watson, Leila Makarechi, et al.
Citation: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 99(7), 1058-1077
Date: 07/2024
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Community Needs Assessment Collaboration Following the July 2022 Flooding in Eastern Kentucky
Describes the process by which community partners serving 14 rural Appalachian Kentucky counties collaborated to design and conduct a community needs assessment in the aftermath of July 2022 flooding. The assessment collected information related to flooding impact on housing, physical and behavioral health, transportation, work, and finances.
Author(s): Melissa Slone, Frances Feltner, William M. Baker, Anthony S. Lockard, Angela Raleigh
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, (1):163–166.
Date: 05/2024
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Disasters and Impacts in Appalachian Kentucky: A Behavioral Health Analysis
Reports on disasters in 8 rural southeast Kentucky counties in 2021-2022, the changing nature of the disasters, and the behavioral health impact on the residents affected. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by disaster type and impact.
Author(s): Walter David Mathews, Joseph M. Clark, Amy S. Potts
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 132–147
Date: 05/2024
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Providing Employment Services to Individuals in Recovery: Lessons from Addiction Recovery Care
Explores a substance use disorder (SUD) recovery program in rural Appalachian Kentucky that pairs the residential clinic with employment services. Details the phases and strategies of the recovery program: stabilization, recovery and life skills, taking action, and job skills and education. Discusses the demographic profile of those in recovery and the impact of providing occupational training during treatment.
Author(s): Robin Koralek, Hannah Engle, Chelsea Jackson, Hannah Pico
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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