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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Responding to Health and Social Needs of Aging Latinos in New-growth Communities: A Qualitative Study
A study examining the health and social needs of elderly Latinos in rural eastern North Carolina conducted by an interprofessional team - the Aging Latino Research Team (ALRT) - composed of health and social service providers, Latino leaders, and university faculty.
Author(s): Kim Larson, Holly F. Mathews, Essie Torres, C. Suzanne Lea
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 17, 601
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
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Housing Counseling Benefits Rural America
Describes multiple success stories from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved housing counseling agencies and the expansion of service delivery options to overcome barriers in rural areas. Examples include using mobile case managers to meet and screen clients without access to transportation, hosting financial education workshops, homeownership sustainability, housing rehabilitation, and more.
Citation: The Bridge, 6(2)
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Trends in the Development of the Dental Service Organization Model: Implications for the Oral Health Workforce and Access to Services
Results of a 2017 survey of dental service organizations, which often build new practices in underserved and rural areas, and case studies of 6 dental support organizations providing general or specialty dentistry in North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and Massachusetts.
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Shen Wang, Simona Surdu, Elizabeth Mertz, Cynthia Wides
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Workforce Studies, Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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An Assessment of Mobile and Portable Dentistry Programs to Improve Population Oral Health
Describes configurations of portable and mobile dental programs including models and applications, discusses targeted populations, details variations in regulations by state, and examines outcomes of preventive interventions in underserved areas. Includes case studies of 7 programs initiated to improve access in underserved populations or in rural areas.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Jean Moore, Rachel Carter, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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The Status of Telemedicine in Missouri
Provides background information on rural healthcare issues in Missouri and discusses the value of using telehealth to improve rural healthcare access. Discusses policy recommendations such as broadband access and details about eligibility and payment requirements for telemedicine.
Author(s): Dave Dillon, Jim Mikes
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Hospital Association
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Building an Adequate VA Care Network: Evaluating the Impact of Choice Providers
Discusses the impact of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice providers on VA network adequacy. Focuses primarily on the impact of Choice providers located in areas of low VA network adequacy, such as rural areas and/or healthcare shortage areas.
Author(s): Evan Carey
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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Research Highlight: Identifying Barriers to Engagement in Mental Health Care: Perspectives of Rural Veterans and Providers
Describes a study of ways that attitudes influence treatment-seeking and use of mental health services among veterans in rural areas. Features results from interviews with 25 rural veterans and 11 rural mental healthcare providers in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, and Wisconsin.
Author(s): Ellen P. Fischer, Jean C. McSweeney, Patricia Wright
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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Home is Where the Heart Is: Insights on the Coordination and Delivery of Home Health Services in Rural America
Identifies facilitators and barriers to providing home health services in rural areas, discusses how rural home health services are currently provided, and offers thoughts about the provision of home health services in the future. Addresses electronic health records, reimbursement issues, workforce challenges, value-based payment, and more.
Author(s): Alana Knudson, Britta Anderson, Kellie Schueler, Emily Arsen
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
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Commentary: Increasing Rural Veterans' Access to Care Through Research
Summarizes the challenges of delivering quality healthcare to rural veterans. Discusses the role of research and innovation as a means of meeting those challenges.
Author(s): Thomas F. Klobucar
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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Research Highlight: The Virtual Specialty Care QUERI Program - Improving Access to High-Quality Specialty Care for Rural Veterans
Highlights the Virtual Specialty Care (VSC) QUERI Program, a measure to support operational partners, such as the Office of Rural Health, Office of Connected Care, and Mental Health Services, as virtual care technologies are implemented to increase access to specialty care for rural veterans. Discusses the challenges of evaluating rapidly evolving technologies without stifling their development.
Author(s): John Fortney, Greg Reger, Alexis Beatty
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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