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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Drive Time to Care and Retention in HIV Care: Rural–Urban Differences Among Medicaid Enrollees in the United States South
Presents a study on the role geography plays in HIV care retention and maintenance. Draws data from Medicaid enrollees in 13 southern states including the District of Columbia and compares patient drive times to care in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by county social determinants of health, healthcare supply, and HIV prevalence, as well as patient characteristics.
Author(s): April D. Kimmel, Rose S. Bono, Zhongzhe Pan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12877
Date: 2025
Type: Document
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Home Health Utilization in the Veterans Health Administration: Are there Rural and Urban Differences?
Examines home health usage and access among veterans in rural and urban areas. Utilizes 2019-2021 Veterans Health Administration (VA) data to analyze rural versus urban home health use, with data broken down by patient sociodemographic variables as well as number of visits.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Bradely Mayfield, Michelle A. Mengeling, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12865
Date: 2025
Type: Document
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Barriers to Participation in Clinical Trials of Rural Older Adult Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study
Explores barriers to clinical trial participation for older cancer survivors living in rural areas. Utilizes semi-structured interviews to discuss challenges such as lack of transportation, limited communication with providers, age, and more.
Author(s): Evelyn Arana-Chicas, Laura M. Hincapie Prisco, Saloni Sharma, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12852
Date: 2025
Type: Document
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How Community Health Centers Respond to Rural Hospital Closures
Describes how community health centers work to fill gaps in healthcare services and impact the economy when a local rural hospital closes.
Author(s): Nick Widmyer, Lena Ben-Gideon
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Telehealth Access Points (TAPs) Best Practices Guide
Outlines how communities can create Telehealth Access Points (TAPs), public spaces where individuals can access telehealth appointments. Highlights equipment needed, sanitization procedures, scheduling tools, building community partnerships, and more. Includes links to information about different TAP models and additional resources.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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Rural-Urban Medicaid and CHIP Enrollee Comparisons Using the 2019 T-MSIS Analytic File
Compares urban and rural residents enrolled in fee-for-service or managed care Medicaid, using data from the 2019 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) Analytic Files (TAF). Features demographics and statistics on Medicaid enrollment, with breakdowns by levels of rurality.
Author(s): Kristie Thompson, Hannah Friedman, Lily Wang, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Extended Reality Telehealth for Rural Spaces
Discusses how extended reality technologies, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and immersive mixed reality, can be used in physical and occupational therapy, mental healthcare, elder care, and veterans healthcare services. Describes potential barriers to implementing extended reality telehealth practices, focusing on rural providers and facilities. Highlights examples of rural broadband and healthcare providers collaborating to implement telehealth services.
Author(s): Joshua Seidemann
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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Readiness of Our Crisis System for 988: Final Report
Analyzes the readiness of state-level behavioral health crisis systems to absorb increased demand with the implementation of the "988" suicide and crisis hotline. Provides an environmental scan and subject matter expert interviews to examine behavioral health availability and accessibility, state improvement plans, and data collection efforts. Includes reflection on the impact of "988" on rural areas.
Author(s): Kiersten Johnson, Shannon Blakey, Tami Mark, et al.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Transforming Lives at the Border: How a Rural Library in San Elizario is Changing the Game
Describes how the Pete Herrera Library functions as a hub for healthcare, human services, education, and more in the rural, border community of San Elizario, Texas. Highlights the library's initiatives and strategies for supporting community health and wellness in a predominantly Spanish-speaking, under-resourced community.
Author(s): Rick Ybarra
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
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Identifying Best Practices for Improving the Evaluation and Management of Stroke in Rural Lower-Resourced Settings: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Discusses the value of quality improvement and expanded stroke service availability in underserved rural and remote settings. Identifies disparities in stroke care access and patient outcomes, and provides strategies related to policy, investment, training, and inter-organizational cooperation which address challenges in prehospital, inpatient, and postacute care, thrombolysis and ED care, patient transfers, and thrombectomy.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Kaiz S. Asif, Sherita Chapman, et al.
Citation: Stroke
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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