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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: North Carolina

Office-Based Spirometry: Key to Diagnosing Rural COPD Patients
Describes the use of spirometry in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Provides an overview of required equipment, staffing needs, and interpretation for rural offices interested in offering spirometry. Features a West Virginia Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural Hospitals: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Describes the conditions facing rural hospitals and their communities contributing to the high rate of rural hospital closure. Discusses state and federal legislation, policies, and programs developed to support rural hospitals. Provides data for 15 Southern states including their state and rural populations, percentage of population uninsured, Medicaid expansion status, percentage at high financial risk, and number of rural hospital closures.
Author(s): Nick Bowman
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments
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Food and Beverage Options at Highway Rest Areas in North Carolina: A Mixed-Methods Audit and Geospatial Approach
Results of a 2018 study to determine the accessibility and healthfulness of food and beverages available at 24 rural and 6 urban North Carolina rest areas. Features statistics on characteristics of the rest areas, including distance from limited-service restaurants or convenience stores.
Author(s): Jared T. McGuirt, Grace Huebner, Rachel Ward, Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
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Overall and Cause-specific Mortality in a Cohort of Farmers and Their Spouses
Highlights a study examining the overall mortality rates of farmers and their families that participated in the Agricultural Health Survey in Iowa and North Carolina. Details participants by age, gender, education and smoking status, among other factors. Compares mortality rates to the general population.
Author(s): Srishti Shrestha, Christine G. Parks, Alexander P. Keil, et al.
Citation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 76(9), 632-643
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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Inclusive Public Health Preparedness Program to Promote Resilience in Rural Appalachia (2016–2018)
Describes a collaborative planning process for responding to public health emergencies in a rural Appalachian setting where citizens are more vulnerable to emergencies and natural disasters. Emphasizes the importance of including rural populations with access and functional needs in the planning process to create all-inclusive, all-hazards emergency response services.
Author(s): Jennifer Schroeder, Erin Bouldin
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(Suppl 4), S283-S285
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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Toolkit: State Strategies to Support Older Adults Aging in Place in Rural Areas
Describes state initiatives helping older rural adults age in place by supporting services allowing them to remain in their homes. Strategies are focused around building the workforce, increasing access to services in rural areas, and addressing social determinants of health. Includes examples of programs that have already been implemented as well as emerging ideas from several states across the country.
Author(s): Neva Kaye, Kristina Long
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Academy for State Health Policy, National Organizations of State and Local Officials
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Maternal Mortality in the United States
Provides an overview of maternal mortality in the United States. Discusses the increase in maternal mortality rates and factors that contribute to maternal deaths. Includes information specific to rural maternal mortality. Identifies policy solutions, including state maternal mortality review committees, and highlights efforts in California and North Carolina to address maternal mortality.
Author(s): Tara O'Neill Hayes, Carly McNeil
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Action Forum
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Report of Recommendations: Appalachian Regional Commission's Substance Abuse Advisory Council
Report outlines the recommendations of the ARC's Substance Abuse Advisory Council on designing and implementing a substance abuse recovery system in rural Appalachia. Details the need for workforce training and employment via support services post-treatment.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Advancing Health Equity and Access Using Telemedicine: A Geospatial Assessment
Highlights a study on the effectiveness of a virtual urgent care (VUC) program in expanding healthcare access and addressing health equity in rural populations in North Carolina. Compares rural versus urban areas and breaks down data by rates of poverty, Medicare and Medicaid enrollment, and broadband access, among other measures.
Author(s): Saif Khairat, Timothy Haithcoat, Songzi Liu, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 796–805
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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The Status of Women in North Carolina: Health & Wellness
Analyzes data on women's health, access to reproductive services, and experiences of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Includes recommendations such as increasing women's access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas. Features statistics on various diseases and health conditions and county-level North Carolina maps showing mortality rates for breast cancer and heart disease.
Author(s): Elyse Shaw, Adiam Tesfaselassie
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement
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