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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: Virginia

Identifying Priority and "Bright-Spot" Counties for Diabetes Preventive Care in Appalachia: An Exploratory Analysis
Details a study of type 2 diabetes prevalence and mortality in rural Appalachian counties and compares rates with non-Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Peter J. Mallow, Michael Topmiller, Jennifer Rankin, Jene Grandmont, David Grolling
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 1(1), 27-33
Date: 2019
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The Social Determinants of Health and the Decline in U.S. Life Expectancy: Implications for Appalachia
Study explores life expectancy in the U.S. and compares these trends to those in Appalachia. Looks at social determinants of health such as substance use, injuries, and suicide, among others, as possible contributing factors.
Author(s): Steven H. Woolf, Heidi Schoomaker, Latoya Hill, Christine M. Orndahl
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 1(1), 6-14
Date: 2019
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Experiences of Medicaid Programs and Health Centers in Implementing Telehealth
Examines the experiences of 19 rural and urban Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and 7 state Medicaid programs with supporting and delivering telehealth. Addresses state Medicaid policies, telehealth models and types, barriers and facilitators for telehealth, and future plans. Identifies considerations for payers, policymakers, and FQHCs interested in telehealth implementation.
Author(s): Lori Uscher-Pines, Kathryn Bouskill, Jessica Sousa, Mimi Shen, Shira H. Fischer
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Impact of Physical Activity and Sleep Quality on Quality of Life of Rural Residents With and Without a History of Cancer: Findings of the Day and Night Study
Reports on a cross-sectional study comparing the physical activity, sleep quality, and physical and mental health of cancer survivors with cancer-free individuals in medically underserved areas of rural Virginia. Evaluates the relationship between sleep quality, average sleep time, and self-reported outdoor activity with predicted mental health and quality of life. The Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and RAND 36-Item Health Survey were used to collect data on dietary intake, sleep quality, and physical activity.
Author(s): Carlin Rafie, Yi Ning, Aiping Wang, Xiang Gao, Robert Houlihan
Citation: Cancer Management and Research, 2018(10), 5525–5535
Date: 11/2018
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Rising Rates of Injection Drug Use Associated Infective Endocarditis in Virginia with Missed Opportunities for Addiction Treatment Referral: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Describes the geographic, clinical trends and characteristics of infective endocarditis related to injection drug use (IDU-IE). Study site serves a large rural area in West Virginia and Virginia. Counties of residence for patient admissions with IDU-IE were identified as rural or urban. Discusses opportunities for improved quality of care for people who inject drugs.
Author(s): Megan E. Gray, Elizabeth T. Rogawski McQuade, W. Michael Scheld, Rebecca A. Dillingham
Citation: BMC Infectious Disease, 18, 532
Date: 10/2018
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Factors Affecting the Development of Medicaid Hospital Payment Policies: Findings from Structured Interviews in Five States
Study examining Medicaid hospital payment policies with a focus on factors affecting payment mix and structure, the impact of state policies and financing methods, how states target hospital services or types such as rural hospitals, barriers to and drivers of change to payment methods, and more. Focuses on 5 states that made or are making significant hospital policy changes: Arizona, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and Virginia. Appendix B includes state profiles.
Author(s): Thomas Marks, Kathy Gifford, Steven Perlin, Melisa Byrd, Timothy Beger
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Hospital Mergers and Public Accountability: Tennessee and Virginia Employ a Certificate of Public Advantage
Examines how state officials can use the certificate of public advantage (COPA) to supervise hospital mergers to benefit the public, particularly in rural areas where mergers may be sought to address financial challenges. Focuses on a case study where officials in Tennessee and Virginia developed COPAs in response to a proposed rural hospital merger affecting both their states. Addresses the role of the states, their processes, and policy implications for other states.
Author(s): Erin C. Fuse Brown
Date: 09/2018
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Kids SIPsmartER: A Feasibility Study to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Middle School Youth in Central Appalachia
Reports on a study examining a school-based intervention, Kids SIPsmartER, aimed at decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among middle school students in rural Appalachian Virginia. Includes student demographic data, such as weight, physical activity, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and other health factors.
Author(s): Hannah Lane, Kathleen J. Porter, Erin Hecht, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Heath Promotion, 32(6), 1386-1401
Date: 07/2018
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Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis
Describes analysis used in assessing how Appalachia's 420 counties scored in 19 health indicators, and identifies counties with health outcomes that were better than expected. Features statistics and county-level maps showing economic status. Second in a series of reports exploring health issues in Appalachia.
Author(s): G. Mark Holmes, Nancy M. Lane, William Holding, et al.
Date: 07/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, PDA, Inc., The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Where You Age Matters: Individual- and County-Level Predictors of Formal and Informal Care in Rural Appalachia
Examines the county-level social factors and individual-level personal characteristics of older adults in rural, Appalachian Virginia. Explores how these factors interact to predict if older adults receive formal or informal care and contribute to disparities of care. Discusses implications for researchers and policymakers to better align outreach and service delivery.
Author(s): Jyoti Savla, L. Rebecca Bivens, Karen A. Roberto, Rosemary Blieszner
Citation: Journal of Aging and Health, 31(5), 837-860
Date: 03/2018
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