Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Survey of the Availability of Neurology Services on Hawaiʻi Island
Examines access to neurology services via a survey of 28 primary care physicians on Hawaii Island, covering topics including the prevalence of neurological complaints or diagnoses among patients, the ability of physicians to manage or refer patients for neurological conditions, and more. Discusses access challenges related to Hawaii's rurality throughout.
Author(s): Jan Augustine E. Aurelio, J. Douglas Miles
Citation: Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, 85(10), 299-306
Date: 10/2026
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Examines access to neurology services via a survey of 28 primary care physicians on Hawaii Island, covering topics including the prevalence of neurological complaints or diagnoses among patients, the ability of physicians to manage or refer patients for neurological conditions, and more. Discusses access challenges related to Hawaii's rurality throughout.
Author(s): Jan Augustine E. Aurelio, J. Douglas Miles
Citation: Hawaii Journal of Health and Social Welfare, 85(10), 299-306
Date: 10/2026
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America's Health Rankings 2026 Health of Women and Children Report
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, healthcare access, substance use, mental health conditions, and more among reproductive-age women and children at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage by County, State Summaries
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Behavioral Health's Place in the Alaskan Health Aide Workforce, with Xiomara Owens and Tonya Horn
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Xiomara Owens, PhD, of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Tonya Horn, PhD, of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Focuses on how Alaska's Behavioral Health Aide program meets behavioral health needs in rural communities.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Xiomara Owens, PhD, of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Tonya Horn, PhD, of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Focuses on how Alaska's Behavioral Health Aide program meets behavioral health needs in rural communities.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Regional Highlights: Changes in Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in the US, 2010-2024
Describes changes in availability of obstetric services at hospitals in the 4 U.S. census regions, including hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Describes changes in availability of obstetric services at hospitals in the 4 U.S. census regions, including hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Veterans Affairs Clinical Resource Hub Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans
Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 32(10), 995-1002
Date: 10/2026
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Evaluates 627,436 telemental health service encounters over 5 years with rural veterans to determine the impact of 18 Clinical Resource Hubs on access to mental healthcare. Discusses how utilization of telemental health services increased over the 5 years, trends in modality types, and mental health diagnoses, in addition to other demographic characteristics.
Author(s): Erin Jaske, Chelle L. Wheat, Bradford Felker, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 32(10), 995-1002
Date: 10/2026
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Geographic Access to Triple Negative Breast Cancer Clinical Trials: Are Trials Located Near Patients?
Examines how geographic proximity to clinical trials for triple-negative breast cancer varies by county-level characteristics using September 2024 ClinicalTrials.gov data. Includes comparisons by rurality, among other demographic and geographic characteristics.
Author(s): Laura Burns Amin, M. Kelsey Kirkwood, Laura A. Levit, et al.
Citation: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 219, 22
Date: 09/2026
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Examines how geographic proximity to clinical trials for triple-negative breast cancer varies by county-level characteristics using September 2024 ClinicalTrials.gov data. Includes comparisons by rurality, among other demographic and geographic characteristics.
Author(s): Laura Burns Amin, M. Kelsey Kirkwood, Laura A. Levit, et al.
Citation: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 219, 22
Date: 09/2026
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Understanding Rurality and Associated Suicide Risks: Perspectives of Adolescents and Caregivers
Presents a study of how rural adolescents and their caregivers perceive rural communities and suicide risks in rural environments. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with 27 adolescents and caregivers each, and discusses barriers to mental healthcare, access to lethal means, and the role of stigma, among other factors.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Gwenyth Gasper, Hannah B. Leavitt, et al.
Citation: Academic Pediatrics, 26(7), 103402
Date: 09/2026
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Presents a study of how rural adolescents and their caregivers perceive rural communities and suicide risks in rural environments. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews with 27 adolescents and caregivers each, and discusses barriers to mental healthcare, access to lethal means, and the role of stigma, among other factors.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Gwenyth Gasper, Hannah B. Leavitt, et al.
Citation: Academic Pediatrics, 26(7), 103402
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Communities at Greater Risk of Harmful Impacts from New Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements
Examines how new federal Medicaid work reporting requirements will affect people living in rural areas. Provides data on rural Medicaid enrollment, disability prevalence, and health status, and details rural-specific barriers to meeting and documenting compliance with work requirements.
Author(s): Adam Searing, Joan Alker
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University
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Examines how new federal Medicaid work reporting requirements will affect people living in rural areas. Provides data on rural Medicaid enrollment, disability prevalence, and health status, and details rural-specific barriers to meeting and documenting compliance with work requirements.
Author(s): Adam Searing, Joan Alker
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Children and Families, Georgetown University
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Technology and Caregiver Navigation: Key Insights for Aging Network Professionals
Describes technology use in caregiver navigation services across the aging network. Discusses benefits, challenges, and the emerging use of artificial intelligence. Notes rural concerns related to broadband access and evaluating access and outcomes.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Describes technology use in caregiver navigation services across the aging network. Discusses benefits, challenges, and the emerging use of artificial intelligence. Notes rural concerns related to broadband access and evaluating access and outcomes.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Geographic Accessibility of Burn Centers in the United States
Examines access to burn centers in the contiguous U.S. according to geography and community income. Analyzes location of burn centers by region and rurality and includes county-level maps showing median household income as well as distance and drive time to nearest burn center.
Author(s): Philong Nguyen, Joshua Wang, Yousef Tanas, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2636854
Date: 09/2026
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Examines access to burn centers in the contiguous U.S. according to geography and community income. Analyzes location of burn centers by region and rurality and includes county-level maps showing median household income as well as distance and drive time to nearest burn center.
Author(s): Philong Nguyen, Joshua Wang, Yousef Tanas, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2636854
Date: 09/2026
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