Rural Health
Resources by State: Pennsylvania
Assessment of a Community-Based Exercise Program for Older Adults in a Mixed Rural/Urban Catchment Area: Silver Sneakers in Central Pennsylvania
Study assessing the Silver Sneakers program, a federally funded, community-based exercise program for older adults, based on interviews with program staff in central Pennsylvania. Discusses rural/urban access to the program, facilities that offer the programs, and closures due to COVID-19.
Author(s): Eileen Flores, Sage Nakawa, Robbin Moyer, Shirley M. Bluethmann
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19, 210283
Date: 01/2022
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Study assessing the Silver Sneakers program, a federally funded, community-based exercise program for older adults, based on interviews with program staff in central Pennsylvania. Discusses rural/urban access to the program, facilities that offer the programs, and closures due to COVID-19.
Author(s): Eileen Flores, Sage Nakawa, Robbin Moyer, Shirley M. Bluethmann
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19, 210283
Date: 01/2022
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Health Care Facilities in Pennsylvania, 2022
County-level map showing locations and numbers of short-term care hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers, with shadings indicating urban and rural counties.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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County-level map showing locations and numbers of short-term care hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers, with shadings indicating urban and rural counties.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Medical School Impact on the Primary Care Physician Shortage in Pennsylvania: Staff Study
Describes training required to become a physician in Pennsylvania and examines issues contributing to primary care physician shortages, including student debt burden, burnout, and low investment in primary care. Features information on primary care initiatives from Pennsylvania's medical schools, including health workforce pipeline programs, and statistics including average number of graduates matching into primary care specialties from each institution, estimates of how many graduates intend to specialize in primary care, and how many are retained by the state. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Bryan W. DeWalt, Stephen J. Kramer, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Describes training required to become a physician in Pennsylvania and examines issues contributing to primary care physician shortages, including student debt burden, burnout, and low investment in primary care. Features information on primary care initiatives from Pennsylvania's medical schools, including health workforce pipeline programs, and statistics including average number of graduates matching into primary care specialties from each institution, estimates of how many graduates intend to specialize in primary care, and how many are retained by the state. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Bryan W. DeWalt, Stephen J. Kramer, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Recruitment and Retention Issues for Counselors in Rural Pennsylvania Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs
Results of a study of Pennsylvania substance use disorder (SUD) counselors and directors of treatment programs and clinics, to assess the characteristics of treatment counselors in rural Pennsylvania counties and how those characteristics relate to recruitment and retention issues. Also examines how well higher education institutions in rural counties prepare those entering the profession, and analyzes the effectiveness of state-level incentives, like the student loan repayment program, to attract potential SUD counselors. Features statistics on counselors' characteristics and duties, and client characteristics.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Murphy
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of a study of Pennsylvania substance use disorder (SUD) counselors and directors of treatment programs and clinics, to assess the characteristics of treatment counselors in rural Pennsylvania counties and how those characteristics relate to recruitment and retention issues. Also examines how well higher education institutions in rural counties prepare those entering the profession, and analyzes the effectiveness of state-level incentives, like the student loan repayment program, to attract potential SUD counselors. Features statistics on counselors' characteristics and duties, and client characteristics.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Murphy
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Transforming State Behavioral Health Systems: Findings from States on the Impact of CCBHC Implementation
Reports information from surveys and interviews with state Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program directors from the 8 original demonstration states, including Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Shares how the CCBHC program helped states address mental health and substance use issues in their communities by lowering costs, improving outcomes, building healthcare system capacity for mental health and substance use, and increasing the infrastructure to meet the rising need of care. Includes specific examples of how the CCBHC program improved access to urgent recovery centers, crisis centers, and telehealth services in rural communities.
Author(s): Rachael Matulis, Dorn Schuffman, Rebecca Farley David, Samantha Holcombe
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Reports information from surveys and interviews with state Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program directors from the 8 original demonstration states, including Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Shares how the CCBHC program helped states address mental health and substance use issues in their communities by lowering costs, improving outcomes, building healthcare system capacity for mental health and substance use, and increasing the infrastructure to meet the rising need of care. Includes specific examples of how the CCBHC program improved access to urgent recovery centers, crisis centers, and telehealth services in rural communities.
Author(s): Rachael Matulis, Dorn Schuffman, Rebecca Farley David, Samantha Holcombe
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Creating New Rural Residency Programs: Three Grantees Share Their Stories
Highlights three rural residency programs in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and California. Discusses program accomplishments made possible through funding from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Residency Planning and Development Program.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights three rural residency programs in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and California. Discusses program accomplishments made possible through funding from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Residency Planning and Development Program.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Police Chiefs Serving Small and Rural Municipalities: Profiles and Concerns
Presents a profile of police chiefs and departments in small and rural Pennsylvania municipalities and compares rural and urban departments. Analyzes concerns of rural Pennsylvania police chiefs, including domestic violence, illicit drug use, human trafficking, school safety, and mental health needs for themselves and for the citizens with whom they interact. Includes statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Jennifer C. Gibbs
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Presents a profile of police chiefs and departments in small and rural Pennsylvania municipalities and compares rural and urban departments. Analyzes concerns of rural Pennsylvania police chiefs, including domestic violence, illicit drug use, human trafficking, school safety, and mental health needs for themselves and for the citizens with whom they interact. Includes statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Jennifer C. Gibbs
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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The Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM): First Annual Report
Evaluates the first year of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), an initiative designed to test if global budgets can help rural hospitals improve their financial viability, provide flexibility to meet locally defined community health needs, and reduce overall health care spending. Provides an overview of the model and describes the implementation experience of the first cohort of participating hospitals. Presents preliminary, descriptive data on the financial performance and utilization outcomes of Cohort 1 participants.
Additional links: Appendix, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Evaluates the first year of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), an initiative designed to test if global budgets can help rural hospitals improve their financial viability, provide flexibility to meet locally defined community health needs, and reduce overall health care spending. Provides an overview of the model and describes the implementation experience of the first cohort of participating hospitals. Presents preliminary, descriptive data on the financial performance and utilization outcomes of Cohort 1 participants.
Additional links: Appendix, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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The Implementation of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth Center: A Program Evaluation
Study that evaluates the implementation of the Pennsylvania-based Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) Center in 3 rural hospitals, based on surveys of staff and patients. Discusses results related to nurse confidence scores, perspectives of telehealth in relation to examinations, quality care, and patient outcomes.
Author(s): Sheridan Miyamoto, Elizabeth Thiede, Elizabeth N. Wright, et al.
Citation: Journal of Forensic Nursing, 17(3), E24-E33
Date: 07/2021
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Study that evaluates the implementation of the Pennsylvania-based Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) Center in 3 rural hospitals, based on surveys of staff and patients. Discusses results related to nurse confidence scores, perspectives of telehealth in relation to examinations, quality care, and patient outcomes.
Author(s): Sheridan Miyamoto, Elizabeth Thiede, Elizabeth N. Wright, et al.
Citation: Journal of Forensic Nursing, 17(3), E24-E33
Date: 07/2021
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Perceptions of Diseases of Despair by Members of Rural and Urban High-Prevalence Communities: A Qualitative Study
Reports on a study of community perceptions of despair-related illnesses based on 4 focus groups of 60 patients from 1 urban and 2 rural census blocks in central Pennsylvania where diseases of despair (DoD) are prevalent. Discusses perceived causes of DoD, such as economic instability, substance misuse, and fragmented family life; and intervention strategies at the community, local, and state level.
Author(s): Daniel R. George, Bethany Snyder, Lauren J. Van Scoy, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(7), e2118134
Date: 07/2021
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Reports on a study of community perceptions of despair-related illnesses based on 4 focus groups of 60 patients from 1 urban and 2 rural census blocks in central Pennsylvania where diseases of despair (DoD) are prevalent. Discusses perceived causes of DoD, such as economic instability, substance misuse, and fragmented family life; and intervention strategies at the community, local, and state level.
Author(s): Daniel R. George, Bethany Snyder, Lauren J. Van Scoy, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(7), e2118134
Date: 07/2021
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