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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Evaluation of Diabetic Retinal Screening and Factors for Ophthalmology Referral in a Telemedicine Network
Examines telemedicine retinal screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) among type 1 or type 2 diabetics in rural and underserved communities in North Carolina. Discusses geographic and socioeconomic challenges that lead to disparities in screening and treatment for DR, exploring telehealth's potential to expand access. Analyzes data on patient characteristics, diagnoses, and referrals.
Author(s): Pooja Jani, Lauren Forbes, Arkopal Choudhury, et al.
Citation: JAMA Opthalmology, 135(7), 706-714
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
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Issue Brief: Social Services
Discusses the types, prevalence, and the agencies providing social services in schools, with information on city, suburban, and rural schools. Includes data on mental health services, health services, and other types of supports.
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Education
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A Guide to Establishing Syringe Services Programs in Rural, At-Risk Areas
Describes the basics of syringe services programs, identifies the need for them in at-risk rural communities, and provides guidance on considerations when establishing programs. Includes examples of syringe services programs in Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and North Carolina. Also covers information about syringe services-related regulations and laws in select locations.
Author(s): Regina La Belle
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Comer Family Foundation
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Alaska Facts and Figures: 2016 Emergency Department Super-Utilizer Facts
Provides statistics on Alaskan residents who visited the emergency department most frequently in 2016 by primary payer type, age group, and public health region.
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Division of Public Health
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Rethinking Rural Hospitals
Discusses the various factors associated with rural hospital closures, and makes the case for adopting new, innovative approaches to rural healthcare delivery.
Author(s): Diana J. Mason
Citation: JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 318(2), 114-115
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
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2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of the quality of and access to healthcare received in the U.S. and discusses the disparities encountered by different racial and ethnic groups, and by geographic locations.
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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CDC Grand Rounds: Addressing Health Disparities in Early Childhood
Discusses the role public health can play in identifying at-risk children and helping to integrate prevention and intervention services for children early in life. Includes brief discussion of the need for behavioral health services for children in rural areas.
Author(s): Lara R. Robinson, Rebecca H. Bitsko, Ross A. Thompson, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(29), 769-772
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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How Western Kentucky Leveraged Medicaid Expansion to Increase Access to Health Care
Describes improvements in healthcare access and quality in Paducah and nearby counties from 2011-2014, when almost 500,000 people were added to the Medicaid rolls. Includes demographic statistics, difference in health system rank from 2012 to 2016, and map showing locations of 9 clinics that have opened or expanded during that time.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Martha Hostetter, Douglas McCarthy
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Telehealth: Use in Medicare and Medicaid
Discusses the extent to which telehealth is used by Medicare and Medicaid, the factors affecting the use of telehealth in Medicare, and how emerging payment and delivery models could affect future telehealth use. Includes rural-specific information throughout with particular attention paid to the role of rural healthcare facilities as originating sites.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Coverage Trends for American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Families
Analyzes data from the U.S. Census Bureau to show trends in health insurance coverage rates among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and families between 2008 and 2015. Examines the expanded role of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in driving down the AI/AN uninsured rates, particularly in states with the largest AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Joan Alker, Karina Wagnerman, Andy Schneider
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
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