Kentucky Resources

Lung and Colorectal Cancer Disparities in Appalachian Kentucky: Spatial Analysis on the Influence of Education and Literacy
Results of a study to explore educational attainment as a risk factor for increased colorectal and lung cancer incidence and mortality in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties. Features county-level maps with shadings indicating prevalence of these cancers and literacy and educational levels.
Author(s): Nicole M. Robertson, Todd Burus, Lauren Hudson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6363
Date: 07/2023
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Telehealth Adoption in Kentucky Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reports statistics and data on the adoption of telehealth, including remote patient monitoring, in Kentucky before the COVID-19 pandemic. Compares rural and urban areas with U.S. averages, and highlights adoption rates in Critical Access and short-term acute care hospitals. Discusses the implications of pre-pandemic telehealth adoption for COVID-19 response in Kentucky.
Author(s): Claudia A. Rhoades
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Blueprint Kentucky
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Factors Associated with Lengths-of-Stay for Inpatients with Substance Use Disorders
Policy brief identifying factors associated with inpatient length-of-stay (LOS) for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and exploring whether there are systematic differences in LOS for rural and urban residents. Includes statistics on characteristics of stays for a primary SUD diagnosis in Kentucky, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington in 2018, with breakdowns by Mental Health Professional Shortage Area and rural or urban location, and selected factors on LOS for an SUD diagnosis, with breakdowns by mental diagnoses, chronic conditions, and sociodemographic measures.
Author(s): Curt Mueller, Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Alana Knudson
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Over the Hills and Through the Hollers: How One Program is Assisting Residents of Appalachia with Opioid Use Recovery
Results of a study evaluating the Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to low-income adults recovering from opioid addiction in several rural eastern Kentucky counties. Examines the impact of KATR on service recipients' access to recovery services and supports.
Author(s): Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 4(3), 71-86
Date: 01/2023
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Association of First Primary Cancer with Risk of Subsequent Primary Cancer among Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancers in Kentucky and Appalachian Kentucky
Evaluated 148,509 Kentucky first primary cancer survivors to determine risk of subsequent primary cancers. Compared outcomes for rural Appalachian residents with urban non-Appalachian residents as well as other variables such as cancer type, sex, and more.
Author(s): Quan Chen, Bin Huang, Abigail M. Anderson, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 13
Date: 2023
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Health Care Access in the Heartland: How to Improve Services in Rural America
Outlines strategies policymakers and community leaders in rural America can use to improve healthcare access and services. Combines data analysis of county demographics and health data with focus groups in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Provides expert interviews to better understand healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Darren Chapman, Angie Cooper, Elizabeth Dombowsky, et al.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Forward
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COVID-19 Stakeholder Experiences in the Commonwealth of Kentucky - 2022
Results of surveys taken from October-December 2021 by 145 Kentucky school leaders, community health workers and their clients, rural community members, and healthcare providers. Includes statistics on satisfaction with telehealth, testing locations and vaccines, barriers faced during stay-at-home orders, and impact of COVID on medical care.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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Consumer Finances in Rural Appalachia
Describes the financial needs and challenges of consumers in rural Appalachia. Features sections on consumer finance profiles, including a section on medical debt, and consumer distress and delinquencies. Appendix A includes state-level statistics for the 13 Appalachian states, including percent of rural people with medical debt in the state.
Author(s): Matthew Liu, Cooper Luce, Michael Orevba, Shawn Sebastian, Cortnie Shupe
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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Preparing for and Rebuilding from a Natural Disaster in Graves County, KY
Case study discussing how Jackson Purchase Medical Center (JPMC) and the West Kentucky Healthcare Coalition (WKYHCC) implemented an emergency response plan in the aftermath of a December 2021 tornado. Discusses the regional emergency preparedness plan and its effectiveness, as well as JPMC's expansion of employee assistance and behavioral health services to meet community needs.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Workforce in Kentucky
Examines the distribution of speech language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists (AUDs) across Kentucky. Explores unique challenges faced by rural communities in accessing hearing and speech specialists. Features statistics on numbers of SLPs and AUDs in Kentucky, with breakdowns by Appalachian, rural, urban, and Delta areas.
Author(s): Sydney P. Howard, Melissa Slone, Austin Huff, Frances Feltner
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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