Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Veterans Health Administration: Better Data and Evaluation Could Help Improve Physician Staffing, Recruitment, and Retention Strategies
Reviews the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) recruitment and retention strategies, specifically for VHA physicians working in the five areas identified as mission-critical: primary care, mental health, gastroenterology, orthopedic surgery, and emergency medicine. Presents information on how many VHA physicians provide care, the extent VHA measures physician workload and productivity, and how current recruitment and retention strategies are evaluated. Addresses rural shortages and makes recommendations for improving VHA workforce development and planning based on interviews with VHA officials and a review of VHA documentation.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Reviews the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) recruitment and retention strategies, specifically for VHA physicians working in the five areas identified as mission-critical: primary care, mental health, gastroenterology, orthopedic surgery, and emergency medicine. Presents information on how many VHA physicians provide care, the extent VHA measures physician workload and productivity, and how current recruitment and retention strategies are evaluated. Addresses rural shortages and makes recommendations for improving VHA workforce development and planning based on interviews with VHA officials and a review of VHA documentation.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Implementing Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Primary Care: Environmental Scan Volume 1
Details challenges and barriers to implementing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in a primary care setting, such as healthcare policy, workforce, and financing, among others. Includes 250 tools and resources to help overcome barriers and support implementation MAT in rural areas.
Additional links: Volume 2: Tools and Resources
Author(s): Garrett E. Moran, Caroline M. Snyder, Rebecca F. Noftsinger, Joshua K. Noda
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Details challenges and barriers to implementing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in a primary care setting, such as healthcare policy, workforce, and financing, among others. Includes 250 tools and resources to help overcome barriers and support implementation MAT in rural areas.
Additional links: Volume 2: Tools and Resources
Author(s): Garrett E. Moran, Caroline M. Snyder, Rebecca F. Noftsinger, Joshua K. Noda
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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The Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on the government's response on the opioid crisis. Includes testimonies from SAMHSA, CDC, NIH, and the FDA regarding current efforts to increase access to treatment for opioid addiction and promote preventive measures across the U.S.
Additional links: Written Testimony
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on the government's response on the opioid crisis. Includes testimonies from SAMHSA, CDC, NIH, and the FDA regarding current efforts to increase access to treatment for opioid addiction and promote preventive measures across the U.S.
Additional links: Written Testimony
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report: Chartbook on Rural Health Care
Summarizes trends in healthcare quality and disparities for rural populations. Includes quality measures for access to healthcare, patient safety, person- and family-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Author(s): Barbara Barton, Irim Azam
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Summarizes trends in healthcare quality and disparities for rural populations. Includes quality measures for access to healthcare, patient safety, person- and family-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Author(s): Barbara Barton, Irim Azam
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Rural Transportation Best Practice: Transportation for Individuals with Chronic Care Conditions
Highlights a program called Mountain Empire Older Citizens (MEOC), which is a transportation assistance service for individuals with chronic conditions in Big Stone Gap, VA. Details the demographics of the town, as well as the structure of the program.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Highlights a program called Mountain Empire Older Citizens (MEOC), which is a transportation assistance service for individuals with chronic conditions in Big Stone Gap, VA. Details the demographics of the town, as well as the structure of the program.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Utilizing Patient Geographic Information System Data to Plan Telemedicine Service Locations
Describes a model for determining optimal locations for telemedicine service providers by using electronic health record (EHR) data in a geographic information system (GIS). Demonstrates the method for extracting GIS patient data from EHRs using an EHR sample of 4,027 visits to a neurodevelopmental pediatric service provider in 2011-2012. Discusses potential and limitations for using EHR data and GIS mapping to plan for specific telemedicine interventions.
Author(s): Neelkamal Soares, Joseph Dewalle, Ben Marsh
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(5), 891-896
Date: 09/2017
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Describes a model for determining optimal locations for telemedicine service providers by using electronic health record (EHR) data in a geographic information system (GIS). Demonstrates the method for extracting GIS patient data from EHRs using an EHR sample of 4,027 visits to a neurodevelopmental pediatric service provider in 2011-2012. Discusses potential and limitations for using EHR data and GIS mapping to plan for specific telemedicine interventions.
Author(s): Neelkamal Soares, Joseph Dewalle, Ben Marsh
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(5), 891-896
Date: 09/2017
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Variations in Obesity Rates between US Counties: Impacts of Activity Access, Food Environments, and Settlement Patterns
Describes differences in obesity rates among U.S. counties based on rurality, region, poverty level, and ethnicity. Analyzes access to physical activity facilities, food environments, and settlement patterns, defined as residential density and car dependence, to determine potential explanations for geographic variations.
Author(s): Peter Congdon
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9), 1023
Date: 09/2017
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Describes differences in obesity rates among U.S. counties based on rurality, region, poverty level, and ethnicity. Analyzes access to physical activity facilities, food environments, and settlement patterns, defined as residential density and car dependence, to determine potential explanations for geographic variations.
Author(s): Peter Congdon
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9), 1023
Date: 09/2017
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Population-Based Geographic Access to Parent and Satellite National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Facilities
Examines geographic access to National Cancer Institute cancer centers with breakdowns by age group, race/ethnicity, education level, income level, and rurality. Discusses differences for rural populations and Native Americans.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Jennifer Alford-Teaster, Fahui Wang
Citation: Cancer, 123(17), 3305-3311
Date: 09/2017
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Examines geographic access to National Cancer Institute cancer centers with breakdowns by age group, race/ethnicity, education level, income level, and rurality. Discusses differences for rural populations and Native Americans.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Jennifer Alford-Teaster, Fahui Wang
Citation: Cancer, 123(17), 3305-3311
Date: 09/2017
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Scaling up HCV Prevention and Treatment Interventions in Rural USA – Model Projections for Tackling an Increasing Epidemic
Highlights a study on the rise in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in rural people who inject drugs (PWID) and the necessary interventions to reduce HCV outbreaks in rural communities. Focuses on a rural county in Indiana and evaluates the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) efficacy and other factors.
Author(s): Hannah Fraser, Jon Zibbell, Thomas Hoerger, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 113(1), 173-182
Date: 09/2017
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Highlights a study on the rise in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in rural people who inject drugs (PWID) and the necessary interventions to reduce HCV outbreaks in rural communities. Focuses on a rural county in Indiana and evaluates the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) efficacy and other factors.
Author(s): Hannah Fraser, Jon Zibbell, Thomas Hoerger, et al.
Citation: Addiction, 113(1), 173-182
Date: 09/2017
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Rural Veterans' Dental Utilization, BRFSS, 2014
Highlight study on the dental utilization rates for rural veterans. Explores whether the rural veterans are more likely to experience negative oral health outcomes, such as missing teeth. Breaks down data by age, educational attainment, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): R. Constance Wiener, Chan Shen, Usha Sambamoorthi, Patricia A. Findley
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 77(4), 383-392
Date: 09/2017
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Highlight study on the dental utilization rates for rural veterans. Explores whether the rural veterans are more likely to experience negative oral health outcomes, such as missing teeth. Breaks down data by age, educational attainment, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): R. Constance Wiener, Chan Shen, Usha Sambamoorthi, Patricia A. Findley
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 77(4), 383-392
Date: 09/2017
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