Rural Health
Resources by State: West Virginia
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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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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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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Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation: Taking a Leadership Role and Building Trust
An interview with Kim Barber Tieman, program director for health and human services for the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, sharing how the foundation has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses efforts to help West Virginia organizations navigate and apply for federal funding opportunities, support for mobile COVID testing units to better reach communities of color, support for telehealth infrastructure, and a wide range of other activities to help meet the needs of the vulnerable and disenfranchised.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An interview with Kim Barber Tieman, program director for health and human services for the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, sharing how the foundation has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses efforts to help West Virginia organizations navigate and apply for federal funding opportunities, support for mobile COVID testing units to better reach communities of color, support for telehealth infrastructure, and a wide range of other activities to help meet the needs of the vulnerable and disenfranchised.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Opioids in Medicaid: Concerns About Opioid Use Among Beneficiaries in Six Appalachian States in 2018
Examines the rates of opioid use of Medicaid beneficiaries in 6 Appalachian states in 2018. Discusses the amount of the prescriptions issued, the amounts of opioids received, and the amount of providers with questionable prescribing practices, among other opioid-related measures.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines the rates of opioid use of Medicaid beneficiaries in 6 Appalachian states in 2018. Discusses the amount of the prescriptions issued, the amounts of opioids received, and the amount of providers with questionable prescribing practices, among other opioid-related measures.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Place Effects and Chronic Disease Rates in a Rural State: Evidence from a Triangulation of Methods
Investigates the relationship between place effects, or food environment, and prevalence of chronic diseases in West Virginia. Features data and statistics on how areas with access to different food vendors (hot spots) and those that lack food providers (cold spots) impact diabetes and obesity rates, with information broken down by rural or urban setting.
Author(s): Mohamed Shabani Kariburyo, Lauri Andress, Alan Collins, Paul Kinder
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6676
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Investigates the relationship between place effects, or food environment, and prevalence of chronic diseases in West Virginia. Features data and statistics on how areas with access to different food vendors (hot spots) and those that lack food providers (cold spots) impact diabetes and obesity rates, with information broken down by rural or urban setting.
Author(s): Mohamed Shabani Kariburyo, Lauri Andress, Alan Collins, Paul Kinder
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6676
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Hospital Access in the Fifth District and COVID-19
Examines hospital access in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Discusses concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides state- and county-level statistics and data on number of hospital beds per capita, average distance to nearest hospitals, and more.
Author(s): Surekha Carpenter, Tim Sablik
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
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Examines hospital access in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Discusses concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides state- and county-level statistics and data on number of hospital beds per capita, average distance to nearest hospitals, and more.
Author(s): Surekha Carpenter, Tim Sablik
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
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Tackling the Trifecta: State Approaches to Addressing Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders, HIV, and Hepatitis C
Highlights the approaches to addressing co-occurring substance use disorder, HIV, and HCV in New York, West Virginia, and Louisiana. Breaks down data in each state by gender and details considerations for rural areas.
Author(s): Eliza Mette, Jodi Manz, Kristina Long
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Highlights the approaches to addressing co-occurring substance use disorder, HIV, and HCV in New York, West Virginia, and Louisiana. Breaks down data in each state by gender and details considerations for rural areas.
Author(s): Eliza Mette, Jodi Manz, Kristina Long
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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The High Obesity Program: A Collaboration Between Public Health and Cooperative Extension Services to Address Obesity
Describes the activities of Programs to Reduce Obesity in High Obesity Areas, also known as High Obesity Program (HOP), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with land grant universities and local Cooperative Extension Offices. HOP was designed to implement evidence-based strategies to improve physical activity and nutrition in mostly rural communities with high rates of obesity to reduce obesity and prevent or control diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Author(s): Sahra Kahin, Ashleigh Murriel, Anu Pejavara, Terrence O'Toole, Ruth Petersen
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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Describes the activities of Programs to Reduce Obesity in High Obesity Areas, also known as High Obesity Program (HOP), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with land grant universities and local Cooperative Extension Offices. HOP was designed to implement evidence-based strategies to improve physical activity and nutrition in mostly rural communities with high rates of obesity to reduce obesity and prevent or control diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Author(s): Sahra Kahin, Ashleigh Murriel, Anu Pejavara, Terrence O'Toole, Ruth Petersen
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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Polysubstance Use in Rural West Virginia: Associations between Latent Classes of Drug Use, Overdose, and Take-Home Naloxone
Examines the relationship between overdose experiences and polysubstance use by rural people who inject drugs (PWID) based on surveys of 420 individuals in West Virginia. Classifies substance use involving stimulants and opioids and discusses implications for take-home naloxone interventions.
Author(s): Kristin E. Schneider, Allison O'Rourke, Rebecca Hamilton White, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Drug Policy, 76, 102642
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Examines the relationship between overdose experiences and polysubstance use by rural people who inject drugs (PWID) based on surveys of 420 individuals in West Virginia. Classifies substance use involving stimulants and opioids and discusses implications for take-home naloxone interventions.
Author(s): Kristin E. Schneider, Allison O'Rourke, Rebecca Hamilton White, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Drug Policy, 76, 102642
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Standard Precautions Among Emergency Medical Services in Urban and Rural Areas
Study examining EMS adherence to standard precautions regarding blood and bodily fluid safety, comparing rural and urban EMS providers in West Virginia. Analyzes survey data to understand general exposure prevention practices. Discusses role of occupational health professionals in administering standard precautions training and evaluation for EMS providers.
Author(s): Riyadh A. Alhazmi, R. David Parker, Sijin Wen
Citation: Workplace Health and Safety, 68(2), 73-80
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Study examining EMS adherence to standard precautions regarding blood and bodily fluid safety, comparing rural and urban EMS providers in West Virginia. Analyzes survey data to understand general exposure prevention practices. Discusses role of occupational health professionals in administering standard precautions training and evaluation for EMS providers.
Author(s): Riyadh A. Alhazmi, R. David Parker, Sijin Wen
Citation: Workplace Health and Safety, 68(2), 73-80
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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