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Rural Public Health Agencies – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Public Health Agencies.

An Approach to Developing Local Climate Change Environmental Public Health Indicators in a Rural District
Explores climate and environmental public health indicators for a seven-county public health department in western Kentucky. Identifies public health hazards and vulnerability indicators and features statistics on percentages of population living in rural areas of the counties studied.
Author(s): Adele Houghton, Jessica Austin, Abby Beerman, Clayton Horton
Citation: Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2017, 3407325
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
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ASTHO Profile of State and Territorial Public Health, Volume Four
Highlights the scope and practice of state and territorial public health services. Covers governance, workforce issues, activities, finances, planning and quality improvement, and health information management. Analyzes data from 2010-2016 to describe the work state and territorial public health agencies are doing in the areas of rural health, health disparities and/or minority, and tribal health initiatives.
Date: 2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Rural Public Health Systems: Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Population Health
Reviews published scientific articles and selected literature from non-commercial publishers concerning rural public health systems and local health departments. Includes key findings on topics such as assessment, policy development, assurance, and accreditation to meet national standards.
Author(s): Nathan L. Hale
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AcademyHealth
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Population Health in Rural Communities
Policy paper discussing the concept of population health in rural communities with a focus on providing better care, improving health, and lowering costs.
Author(s): Sally Buck, Patricia A. Crawford, John Gale, Deborah Holzmark, Michelle Mills
Date: 04/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural Healthy People 2020: A Companion Document to Healthy People 2020, Volume 2
Provides a rural focus for the Healthy People 2020 priorities with an overview for each of the top health priorities ranked 11 through 20 identified by rural stakeholders. (Volume 1 discussed the top 10 priorities.) Topics include: cancer, health education, oral health, immunizations and infectious disease, public health, sexual health and family planning, injury and violence prevention, and social determinants of health. Includes reviews of the relevant literature and model programs appropriate for rural communities. Document is available for free download, after providing brief information about intended use.
Author(s): Jane N. Bolin, Gail Bellamy, Alva O. Ferdinand, Bita Kash, Janet W. Helduser
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Healthy People 2020: A Companion Document to Healthy People 2020, Volume 1
Provides a rural focus for the Healthy People 2020 priorities. Includes overviews of the top 10 rural health priority areas identified by rural stakeholders. (Volume 2 discusses priorities 11-20.) Topics addressed include: health insurance, primary care, emergency services, nutrition and weight status, diabetes, mental health, substance abuse, heart disease and stroke, physical activity, older adults, maternal and child health, and tobacco use. Each overview includes reviews of the relevant literature and models that rural communities can use to address the issues. Document is available for free download, after providing brief information about intended use.
Author(s): Jane N. Bolin, Gail Bellamy, Alva O. Ferdinand, Bita Kash, Janet W. Helduser
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Mobilizing Community Partnerships in Rural Communities: Strategies and Techniques
Describes how rural communities can develop and maintain organizational and community partnerships with local health departments, community health centers, healthcare organizations, offices of rural health, hospitals, and non-profit organizations. Recommendations are based on interviews with Federal Office of Rural Health Policy grantees involved in successful rural community partnership initiatives.
Author(s): Mikhaila Richards
Date: 07/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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The Utility of Rural and Underserved Designations in Geospatial Assessments of Distance Traveled to Healthcare Services: Implications for Public Health Research and Practice
Reviews different definitions and designations of rurality in relation to resident characteristics in a sample of 8 central Texas counties. Discusses the impact that rural definitions can have on research findings and health policy.
Author(s): Matthew Lee Smith, Justin B. Dickerson, Monica L. Wendel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2013, 960157
Date: 06/2013
Type: Document
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Infectious Enteritis and Foodborne Illness in the United States, 2010
Provides data on hospital inpatient stays and treat-and-release emergency department (ED) visits for infectious enteritis and foodborne noninfectious gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Includes data by location of patient's residence for urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Jennifer Lucado, Shamis Mohamoud, Lan Zhao, Anne Elixhauser
Date: 03/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Establishing and Maintaining Public Health Infrastructure in Rural Communities
Reports on the availability of public health services in rural communities. Provides recommendations for establishing and maintaining public health infrastructure and services in rural areas. Includes a case study from Maine.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Michael Meit, Naomi Hernandez
Date: 02/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Last Updated: 3/1/2024