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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Mental Health Service Use, Suicide Behavior, and Emergency Department Visits Among Rural US Veterans Who Received Video-Enabled Tablets During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study to examine whether a United States Veterans Affairs initiative to distribute video-enabled tablets during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with mental healthcare access, suicide behavior, or emergency department (ED) visits among rural veterans. Features demographics and statistics on mental health services use and ED visits, with breakdowns by tablet recipients and nonrecipients.
Author(s): Kritee Gujral, James Van Campen, Josephine Jacobs, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(4)
Date: 04/2022
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A Qualitative Study of Rural Healthcare Providers' Views of Social, Cultural, and Programmatic Barriers to Healthcare Access
Examines barriers to healthcare access in rural populations based on semi-structured interviews with 12 healthcare providers practicing in Montana. Focuses on domains of cultural considerations, patient-provider communication, and provider-provider communication.
Author(s): Nicholas C. Coombs, Duncan G. Campbell, James Caringi
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 438
Date: 04/2022
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Partnering for Rural Transportation with Alisa Druzba and Steve Workman
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Alisa Druzba and Steve Workman. Describes the development of the New Hampshire Mobility Management Network and how it provides options for rural residents. Focuses on the role of collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies in supporting long-term sustainability for transportation services.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Associations Between Obesity, Physical Inactivity, Healthcare Capacity, and the Built Environment: Geographic Information System Analysis
Explores the impacts healthcare capacity and the built environment have on obesity and physical inactivity. Identifies variations in rural versus urban areas relating to access to healthcare facilities and opportunities to exercise, based on demographic data obtained from a variety of secondary sources and then mapped to geographic locations with GIS. Includes county-level maps representing the study findings in South Carolina.
Author(s): Duaa Aljabri
Citation: Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 15, 689-704
Date: 04/2022
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Arizona Frontier Special Area (SArea) 2021 Statistical Profile
Identifies the frontier areas in Arizona and provides data on the demographics, natality and infant mortality, and healthcare utilization of populations in those areas compared to rural and urban areas in Arizona. Includes data on health workforce to population ratios and healthcare facilities and services.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Bureau of Health Systems Development
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USDA Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2022-2026
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strategic plan for fiscal years 2022-2026, setting strategic goals related to environmental health, access to services, conservation, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and more. Discusses investment and programs for rural and tribal communities throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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2020 Alabama State Health Assessment
Reports on the health of Alabama residents, providing demographic data and comparing rural and urban areas throughout. Presents county-level data and discussion of 14 selected health indicators, including mental health and substance abuse, access to care, pregnancy outcomes, social determinants of health, and environmental health, among others.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Department of Public Health
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Tribal Transportation: Issues and Successful Models
Discusses issues related to transportation in tribal areas and how lack of transportation options causes forgone medical care, community disengagement, and employment difficulties. Provides information on tribal sovereignty, funding, coordination, and economic development as related to transportation systems. Includes case studies of successful transit programs in tribal areas.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Intraregional Tribal Transportation Strategy
Report highlights a strategy for connecting rural tribal lands with access to transit in the San Diego region of California. Details the project's collaboration with local transit agencies and tribal governments.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organizations: San Diego Association of Governments, Southern California Tribal Chairman's Association
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Initial Home Dialysis Is Increased for Rural Patients by Accessing Urban Facilities
Investigates health disparities between rural and urban patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Examines 97,930 dialysis initiates from the 2017 United States Renal Data System, broken down by the timing of home dialysis initiation, patient race, disease type, body mass index (BMI), employment status, rural versus urban facility location, and more. Discusses issues of access and disparities in mortality for different populations.
Author(s): Joel T. Adler, S. Ali Husain, Lingwei Xiang, James R. Rodrigue, Sushrut S. Waikar
Citation: Kidney 360, 3, 488-496
Date: 03/2022
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