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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Leveraging Evidence-Based Policies to Improve Health, Control Costs, and Create Health Equity
Explores health inequities and healthcare access in marginalized populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups, sexual and gender minorities, people living in poverty and in rural communities, and people formerly incarcerated. Discusses strategies and policies to reduce inequities focused on access to healthcare, economic mobility, affordable housing, safe learning environments for young adults and children, and health-promoting excise taxes.
Author(s): Adam Lustig, Marilyn Cabrera
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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The Implementation of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth Center: A Program Evaluation
Study that evaluates the implementation of the Pennsylvania-based Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) Center in 3 rural hospitals, based on surveys of staff and patients. Discusses results related to nurse confidence scores, perspectives of telehealth in relation to examinations, quality care, and patient outcomes.
Author(s): Sheridan Miyamoto, Elizabeth Thiede, Elizabeth N. Wright, et al.
Citation: Journal of Forensic Nursing, 17(3), E24-E33
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Environmental Factors Associated with Physical Activity in Rural U.S. Counties
Examines rural-urban differences in environmental factors that impact whether or not adults meet physical activity guidelines based on several federal data sources for 3,140 counties. Discusses variations in natural, social, recreational, and transportation environments by level of rurality.
Author(s): Christiaan G. Abildso, Shay M. Daily, M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7688
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Telehealth, COVID-19 and Looking Ahead
Discusses COVID-19 telehealth policy flexibilities that may be made permanent through legislation or other state-level action as of July 2021. Offers a map indicating states where legislation seeks to make policy changes permanent, presents an overview of specific policy flexibilities, and discusses state-level approaches, including temporary extensions of policy changes and non-legislative action.
Author(s): Jack Pitsor
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Rural Montana
Profiles how St. Peter's Health - a health system in Helena, Montana - developed and implemented a parental support system to address gaps in postpartum mental health care. Discusses partnerships St. Peter's Health utilized to connect parents with community-based services and supports. Offers lessons learned and future goals for the program.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Federal Agencies' Investment in Rural Cancer Control Fosters Partnerships between Researchers and Rural Communities
Highlights how researchers and rural communities are working together to address rural cancer prevention and control, with support from federal funding. Discusses projects that address health behaviors, cancer screening, vaccination, and rural participation in clinical trials.
Author(s): Mary Charlton, Whitney Zahnd, Jennifer Patterson, Kimberly Merchant
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Door-to-Door Vaccination Campaign Reaches the Most Vulnerable
Article and video describing the efforts of the Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety (CAPS), a community-based organization, to conduct COVID-19 vaccination outreach door-to-door in rural, at-risk, and immigrant communities in California. Describes the challenges facing public health agencies working in rural areas, vaccine hesitancy, and health disparities in rural areas.
Author(s): Stephen Johnson
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Freethink
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Rural Hospital Closings in Southern States
Interactive map depicting 59 rural hospital closures from January 2012 - July 2021 in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Uses data from the North Carolina Health Research Program.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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State Medicaid Telehealth Policies Before and During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Discusses issues and opportunities for optimizing telehealth, including equity considerations for rural and lower-income communities.
Author(s): Rose C. Chu, Christie Peters, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Opioid Treatment Programs: A Key Treatment System Component
Issue brief examining state and federal-level policies related to opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Offers policy recommendations to increase access to opioid treatment in rural communities and other hard-to-reach settings.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
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