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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: West Virginia

West Virginia Primary Care Provider Shortage Areas, Certified Clinic Locations, and Blood Pressure Medication Nonadherence
County-level map showing locations of West Virginia Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Division of Primary Care
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Disparities in Amputation in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease
Examines health disparities related to amputation and the management of peripheral arterial disease. Discusses intersecting factors impacting the need for amputation, such as race/ethnicity, geography, and more. Includes county- and ZIP code-level state maps of West Virginia that show 2011-2016 risk estimates for amputation in patients with diabetes and/or peripheral arterial disease.
Author(s): Katharine L. McGinigle, Samantha D. Minc
Citation: Surgery,169(6), 1290-1294
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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Vaccine Distribution in Rural Counties
Presents data on COVID-19 vaccination rates and intention to be vaccinated by urban-rural status. Discusses vaccine distribution, challenges facing rural communities, and considerations for communication about the vaccines. Describes best practices in rural counties in Virginia, Washington, and West Virgina.
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Characterization of Mental Illness Among US Coal Miners
Describe the prevalence of and risk factors for mental illness among 2,808 active and former coal miners from central Appalachia who received clinical care at Stone Mountain Health Services Black Lung Clinic between 2018-2020. Features statistics with breakdowns by degree of depression, pulmonary risk factors, and length of time spent working as a miner.
Author(s): Drew Harris, Timothy McMurry, Amanda Caughron, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(5)
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
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Improving Access to Behavioral Health Crisis Services with Electronic Bed Registries
Report highlights the ways up-to-date electronic bed registries can improve crisis care treatment and access to behavioral healthcare. Features profiles of states that have received funding for electronic bed registries through the Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI). Outlines and evaluates each state-level program.
Author(s): David Morrissette
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
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Understanding Declining Rates of Drug Overdose Mortality in Eastern Kentucky
Identifies policies and strategies that might have contributed to the decline in drug overdose mortality in the 5-year periods from 2008-2012 to 2013-2017 in 8 counties in eastern Kentucky. Offers recommendations for approaches that could be implemented in other communities. Includes statistics on overdose mortality in 8 eastern Kentucky counties; a county-level map showing changes in rates of overdose mortality in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio; and a graph showing rates of overdose mortality in the Appalachian counties of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia from 1999-2019.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
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Examining the Potential for Additional Rebalancing of Long-Term Services and Supports
Explores efforts to rebalance long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults and people with disabilities toward home and community-based settings. Profiles five states with lower levels of rebalancing compared to the national average: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, and West Virginia. Presents findings from interviews with federal and state officials, as well as other stakeholders involved with Medicaid LTSS systems and beneficiaries. Discusses how the COVID-19 public health emergency and flexibilities influenced LTSS services in these states. Offers future considerations for federal and state governments when addressing barriers to home and community-based services.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Care Strategies, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, RTI International
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Successful COVID-19 Messaging in Rural Communities
April 20, 2021 webinar in which West Virginia commissioner and state health officer Dr. Ayne Amjad and West Virginia University School of Medicine professor Dr. Lisa Costello present insights from their research and vaccine outreach campaign to West Virginia communities. Includes an audience question and answer session. Transcript available by clicking the More tab in the description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 04/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Public Health Communications Collaborative
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Traffic Safety in Appalachia: Final Report
Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Ensuring Contact: Calling Rural Appalachian Older Adults During the COVID-19 Epidemic
Presents a study on the well-being and healthcare needs of socially isolated adults 75 years and older during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural West Virginia. Bases conclusions on telephone interviews with seniors from April 1-22, 2020. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, mental and physical health conditions, and comfort with different forms of communication technology, among other factors.
Author(s): Robert B Walker, Michael Grome, William Rollyson, Adam D Baus
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(1), 6122
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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