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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Between Urban and Rural Counties — United States, December 14, 2020–January 31, 2022
Examines COVID-19 vaccination disparities between urban and rural people 5 years of age and older. Discusses factors that may have contributed to vaccination disparities, including healthcare access, views about COVID-19 specifically, and vaccine hesitancy more generally. Provides data based on a 6-level urban-rural classification and a 2-level urban-rural classification, with vaccination coverage by sex, age group, and state. Also includes data on vaccine series completion and receipt of a booster or additional dose.
Author(s): Ryan Saelee, Elizabeth Zell, Bhavini Patel Murthy, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(9), 335-340
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Public Transportation's Role in Rural Healthcare Access with Carol Wright Kenderdine
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carol Wright Kenderdine. Discusses transportation needs and challenges faced by rural older adults and people with disabilities. Explains the role of rural public transit agencies, national resources available to support transit, and how COVID-19 has spurred innovation in rural transportation.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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COVID-19 and Alabama's Black Belt
Issue brief examining COVID-19 impacts on the Black Belt region of Alabama and rural Alabama in general, highlighting health outcome disparities. Addresses chronic diseases affecting residents of the Black Belt, access to primary care physicians, and policy recommendations to support healthcare in the region.
Author(s): Emily Grace Corley, Garrett Till, Sean O'Brien, Stephen G. Katsinas, Nathaniel J. Bray
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: The University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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Veterans Community Care Program: VA Should Strengthen Its Ability to Identify Ineligible Health Care Providers
Examines the extent to which vulnerabilities in Veterans Community Care Program eligibility requirements contribute to potentially ineligible providers participating in the program. Offers recommendations to the Veterans Administration to enhance provider eligibility controls and oversight.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Hawaii 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment
Reports on Hawaii's triennial community health needs assessment. Addresses access to healthcare, transportation challenges, healthy food access, cultural competency, social determinants of health, current health status, and more. Discusses impact of COVID-19 on the community. Includes discussions of rural-specific challenges and perspectives from Native Hawaiians.
Additional links: Addendum to the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment: Additional Tracking of Secondary Data
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Healthcare Association of Hawaii
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Healthy Alaskans 2030: State Health Improvement Plan
Provides an overview of the statewide health improvement plan and details the 30 health objectives to be met by 2030. Highlights objectives related to mental health, chronic disease incidence, healthcare access, disparities, and social determinants of health, among others.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Alaska Department of Health, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
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Assessing the Health Outcomes of the Food Access Pilot Project: An Evaluation of a Medically Supportive Food Support Program for People Living with HIV in Rural California Counties
Examines the effect of the Food Access Pilot Project (FAPP), which provided prepared meals or meal kits to food-insecure HIV-positive people, on HIV viral load, CD4 count, and food security among 158 participants in California's Humboldt, Napa, and San Joaquin counties.
Author(s): Linda Yu, Amee Madura, Claudia Gil, Paul Hepfer, Kartika Palar
Citation: AIDS and Behavior, 26, 2613-2622
Date: 02/2022
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2022-2027 Illinois Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
Provides an overview of the cancer burden in Illinois as well as strategies to improve screening, treatment, and survivorship. Discusses geographic disparities related to healthcare access and provides county-level data on cancer rates and social determinants of health. Includes a section specific to issues of rural health and cancer control.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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The Lives of Native Hawaiian Elders and Their Experiences With Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis
Highlights a 5-year study on the experiences of Native Hawaiian elders have had accessing quality healthcare. Discusses barriers to healthcare for Native Hawaiian elders, including those residing in rural areas.
Author(s): Keilyn Leina'ala Kawakami, Shelley Muneoka, Rachel L. Burrage, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health
Date: 02/2022
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Teledentistry Helps Provide the Right Care at the Right Time
Presents a report on the best uses of teledentistry. Discusses the use of teledentistry for dental triage, follow-up care, and in place of in-person visits for patients with less access to care, such as those in rural areas.
Author(s): Lisa J. Heaton, Madhuli Thakkar-Samtani, Caroline D. McLeod, Eric P. Tranby
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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