Washington Resources

Federally Designated Health Professional Shortage Areas for Dental Care in Washington
Shows full or partial areas of counties designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in Washington.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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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 socio-demographic measures.
Author(s): Curt Mueller, Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Alana Knudson
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Equity Research Center
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The Washington Rural Palliative Care Initiative Handbook
Handbook explores Washington State's rural palliative care initiative. Details the structure of the program, the cohorts around the state, and the activities implemented by the program.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Office of Rural Health
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Factors Impacting Implementation of Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies in Rural Schools
Examines school policies and implementation related to nutrition and physical activity (PA) to understand the disproportionate rates of obesity in rural Latino children. Analyzes perceptions of policies and barriers from 20 interviews with stakeholders in Lower Yakima Valley of Eastern Washington State K-12 school districts. Discusses themes such as knowledge of school PA and nutrition policies as well as barriers and facilitators to policy implementation.
Author(s): Caryn Ausenhus, Joshua M. Gold, Cynthia K. Perry, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 23, 308
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
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Filling Behavioral Health Gaps in Rural Communities: A Unique Partnership in Washington State
Discusses a collaboration between a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in Washington and state hospitals to accept patient transfers by utilizing swing beds to care for patients with complex behavioral health and social needs, such as substance use disorder, mental health, homelessness, and more. Includes data on swing bed admissions and information on incorporating behavioral health services into primary care.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Martha Hostetter
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The Commonwealth Fund
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Facing Unique Challenges, Rural Communities Find Unique Solutions to Protect Against Wildfire Smoke Exposure
Discusses the impact of wildfire smoke on health and describes efforts in rural Idaho, Nevada, and Washington to address air quality concerns.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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2022 Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment: A Report of the Behavioral Health Workforce Advisory Committee
Details the results of a study analyzing the occupations, roles, size, distribution, career pathways, demand, policy, and practice issues for the behavioral health workforce in the state of Washington. Includes recommendations to address workforce-related barriers and improve access to behavioral healthcare, and provides rural specific information.
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies, Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
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Partnership to Develop and Deliver Curriculum Supporting Student-Led Air Quality Research in Rural Washington State
Highlights a partnership between an urban and rural university and a tribal high school in Washington's Yakima Valley to conduct air-quality research. Discusses the design of the project, the roles and responsibilities of each party, and evaluates the success of the partnership.
Author(s): Orly Stampfer, Omar Torres Cassio, Jason A. Grajales, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 16(3), 411-420
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Disparities in Years of Potential Life Lost Among Racial and Ethnic Groups in Washington State
Explores rates of premature mortality among racial and ethnic minorities in Washington State. Compares rates of potential life lost for people of non-Hispanic Black, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and multiracial groups to the rates of the non-Hispanic White population. Highlights rurality as a factor as well.
Author(s): Solmaz Amiri, Sandte L. Stanley, Justin T. Denney, Dedra Buchwald
Citation: Archives of Public Health, 80, 211
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Rapid Antigen Screening of Students and Staff for SARS-CoV-2 in Rural School Districts, Pierce County, WA, 2020
Provides an overview of a program in rural Washington school districts to screen students and staff for COVID-19 with weekly rapid antigen tests. Discusses efficacy, impact on school policy decisions, and overall sustainability of the program.
Author(s): Daniel R. Stutman, Julie K. Tergliafera, Morgan E. Black, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 112(8), 1134-1137
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
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