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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Healthcare Workforce – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Healthcare Workforce.

US Pediatric Primary Care Physician Workforce in Rural Areas, 2010 to 2020
Research letter assessing the growth and distribution of the general pediatrician and family medicine physician workforce from 2010-2020 across U.S. counties, and identifying sociodemographic characteristics of counties lacking these physicians. Features statistics with breakdowns by partly rural, entirely rural, and total counties.
Author(s): Tarun Ramesh, Hao Yu
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(9)
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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How Academic Medicine Serves Rural Communities Across the Country
Highlights how Association of American Medical Colleges teaching hospitals and medical schools are serving patients in rural communities. Features the work of 6 institutions in North Dakota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, George, Texas, and California, and shares the challenges and successes unique to these communities.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of American Medical Colleges
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Rural Health Research Recap: Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Summarizes recent research from Rural Health Research Centers examining numbers of social workers, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and counselors. Features statistics including percent of counties without behavioral health professionals from 2014-2021 and behavioral health professionals per 100,000 residents from 2014-2021, with breakdowns by urban or rural location and profession type.
Author(s): Jessica Rosencrans
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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COVID-19 Impact on Dental Service Delivery, Financing, Regulation, and Education Systems: An Environmental Scan
Describes the immediate and longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental care delivery, regulation, education, and finance. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Aubri Kottek, Theekshana Fernando, et al.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Changes in Telehealth Experienced by Advanced Practice RNs During COVID-19
Summarizes 7,467 advanced practice RNs' national survey responses from June-September 2020 about the use of telehealth before and during the pandemic, and analyzes free-text comments about how the use of telehealth changed during the pandemic. Discusses challenges in rural areas, including provider shortages and lack of broadband access.
Author(s): Mavis N. Schorn, Carole R. Myers, Julie Barroso, et al.
Citation: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 41(7), 507–513
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
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Preparing the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce: State Strategies for Recruitment and Retention
Provides an overview of the first year of the National Governors Association's Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce project, which works with states on implementing strategies to strengthen and grow the next generation of the healthcare workforce. Outlines project outcomes and provides additional information on ongoing state healthcare workforce initiatives in participating states. Covers statewide cross-agency coordination, funding healthcare workforce initiatives, health equity and workforce diversity, data collection, career pathways, rural workforce, and more.
Author(s): Anna Heard, Shelby Hockenberry, Elijah McCabe, et al.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Rural Training in Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowships
Highlights a study on access to rural-focused family medicine obstetrics (FM OB) fellowships for family medicine residency graduates. Explores the availability of rural-specific FM OB fellowships and the challenges programs face in providing rurally-oriented training to family medicine physicians. Breaks down data by fellowship type, training curriculum, and rurality of location, among other measures.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Recruiting the Next Generation of Behavioral Health Professionals
Podcast episode regarding the recruitment, training, and retention of behavioral health specialists in rural areas. Discusses the University of Iowa Health Care rural psychiatry residency track and Public Psychiatry Fellowship program.
Date: 05/2023
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Barriers to Rural Health Care From the Provider Perspective
Results of a study using data from interviews with 20 healthcare providers in rural areas of western Pennsylvania. Explores barriers to care, including cost and insurance, geographic dispersion, and provider shortage and burnout. Offers strategies for improvement, including use of telehealth, mobile clinics, and increased use of advanced practice providers.
Author(s): Avinash Maganty, Mary E. Byrnes, Megan Hamm, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 23(2), 7769
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Understanding the U.S. Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage
Discusses the shortage of behavioral health professionals across the country and highlights some of the contributing factors. Breaks down factors affecting licensed providers, clinical supporters, community care workers, and frontline workers. Makes recommendations for policymakers and includes considerations for rural areas.
Author(s): Nathaniel Counts
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Last Updated: 11/4/2024