Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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2025 Washington State Suicide Prevention Plan
Outlines a statewide suicide prevention plan for rural and urban individuals, families, and communities in Washington based on the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Describes strategies to prevent suicide and make treatment and support services more accessible. Includes statistics on suicide rates by age, sex, county, and more.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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Outlines a statewide suicide prevention plan for rural and urban individuals, families, and communities in Washington based on the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Describes strategies to prevent suicide and make treatment and support services more accessible. Includes statistics on suicide rates by age, sex, county, and more.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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Rural Oncologists' Perceptions of Specialty Scarcity and Repercussions for Care Delivery: A Qualitative Study
Explores the perceptions and experiences of oncology physicians regarding the impact those within rural referral networks face following the departure of physicians they see as crucial to their cancer care networks. Discusses the loss of expertise, loss of collaborative relationships, and increased patient volume, as well as the adaptive strategies networks implement to make up for the loss of crucial providers.
Author(s): Erika L Moen, Christopher Tirrell, Gabriel A Brooks, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 22(1), 167-173
Date: 05/2025
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Explores the perceptions and experiences of oncology physicians regarding the impact those within rural referral networks face following the departure of physicians they see as crucial to their cancer care networks. Discusses the loss of expertise, loss of collaborative relationships, and increased patient volume, as well as the adaptive strategies networks implement to make up for the loss of crucial providers.
Author(s): Erika L Moen, Christopher Tirrell, Gabriel A Brooks, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Practice, 22(1), 167-173
Date: 05/2025
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Differences in COVID-19 Testing Perceptions among Caregivers of Children with Medical Complexity by Rurality
Examines how COVID-19 testing access, intent to test, and related perceptions among caregivers of children with one or more complex chronic conditions surveyed between April and June 2022.
Author(s): Kristina Devi Singh-Verdeflor, Michelle M. Kelly, Gregory P. DeMuri, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(5), e0323651
Date: 05/2025
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Examines how COVID-19 testing access, intent to test, and related perceptions among caregivers of children with one or more complex chronic conditions surveyed between April and June 2022.
Author(s): Kristina Devi Singh-Verdeflor, Michelle M. Kelly, Gregory P. DeMuri, et al.
Citation: PLOS ONE, 20(5), e0323651
Date: 05/2025
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Care Packages to Promote Universal Suicide Prevention for Remote Alaska Native Communities: What Worked?
Presents a study on the efficacy of a suicide prevention intervention aimed at teens in remote Alaska Native communities. Details the distribution of mental health and safety promotion care packages sent to participants through the mail and highlights the results of a survey of participants on the perceived success of the intervention.
Author(s): Joshua Kennedy, Lisa Wexler, Tara Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70032
Date: 05/2025
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Presents a study on the efficacy of a suicide prevention intervention aimed at teens in remote Alaska Native communities. Details the distribution of mental health and safety promotion care packages sent to participants through the mail and highlights the results of a survey of participants on the perceived success of the intervention.
Author(s): Joshua Kennedy, Lisa Wexler, Tara Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70032
Date: 05/2025
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Geographic and Sociodemographic Factors and Receipt of Metabolic Disease Specialty Care
Examines geographic and sociodemographic factors that impact access to specialty metabolic care in rural areas. Utilizes data from 9,546 adults with chronic health conditions in Pennsylvania and provides data on receipt of endocrinology and cardiology care according to patient demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and location of urban, large rural town, or small rural town. Includes maps showing driving distance to care centers.
Author(s): Margaret F. Zupa, Scott D. Rothenberger, Jessica G. Bauer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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Examines geographic and sociodemographic factors that impact access to specialty metabolic care in rural areas. Utilizes data from 9,546 adults with chronic health conditions in Pennsylvania and provides data on receipt of endocrinology and cardiology care according to patient demographics, neighborhood characteristics, and location of urban, large rural town, or small rural town. Includes maps showing driving distance to care centers.
Author(s): Margaret F. Zupa, Scott D. Rothenberger, Jessica G. Bauer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5)
Date: 05/2025
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The Relationship Between Low Social/Emotional Support and Health Care Affordability Among Rural and Urban Residents
Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Adapting Sampling and Incentive Strategies to Improve Survey Response for Rural Latinos - Using the 2024 Community Health Survey
Presentation slides examining the effectiveness of sampling and incentive practices for surveying hard-to-survey, rural Latino populations, with particular focus on Spanish-speaking migrants. Highlights strategies and lessons learned from the 2024 Community Health Survey conducted in rural counties of California and Arizona.
Additional links: Project Overview: Examining Policies Influencing Rural Latino Health Study
Author(s): Hannah Murrow, Barbara Fernandez, Lauren Sedlak, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presentation slides examining the effectiveness of sampling and incentive practices for surveying hard-to-survey, rural Latino populations, with particular focus on Spanish-speaking migrants. Highlights strategies and lessons learned from the 2024 Community Health Survey conducted in rural counties of California and Arizona.
Additional links: Project Overview: Examining Policies Influencing Rural Latino Health Study
Author(s): Hannah Murrow, Barbara Fernandez, Lauren Sedlak, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: NORC at the University of Chicago
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School-Based Health Centers and School Attendance in Rural Areas
Examines the relationship between the availability of School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) and student absenteeism in rural areas. Analyzes 66,303 students from kindergarten to 12th grade for absenteeism in districts with a SBHC and those without a SBHC.
Author(s): Chris Kjolhede, Wendy M. Brunner, John W. Sipple
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5), e2510083
Date: 05/2025
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Examines the relationship between the availability of School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) and student absenteeism in rural areas. Analyzes 66,303 students from kindergarten to 12th grade for absenteeism in districts with a SBHC and those without a SBHC.
Author(s): Chris Kjolhede, Wendy M. Brunner, John W. Sipple
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(5), e2510083
Date: 05/2025
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Impact of Hospital Closure on Rural Communities: A Qualitative Study
Examines the impact of rural hospital closure on access to care, and identifies ways that rural communities adapt to hospital closures. Utilizes interview excerpts from 25 informants examining themes related to pre-closure conditions, impacts on communities and health systems, and actions by communities, states, health systems, and emergency medical services.
Author(s): Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Mina Shrestha, Fred Ullrich, Whitney Zahnd, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines the impact of rural hospital closure on access to care, and identifies ways that rural communities adapt to hospital closures. Utilizes interview excerpts from 25 informants examining themes related to pre-closure conditions, impacts on communities and health systems, and actions by communities, states, health systems, and emergency medical services.
Author(s): Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Mina Shrestha, Fred Ullrich, Whitney Zahnd, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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