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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Sociodemographic Differences in Nonfinancial Access Barriers to Health Care Among Adults: United States, 2022
Examines nonfinancial reasons adults delay medical care, such as work or other time commitments, lack of available appointments, not having access to clinic or provider hours, difficulty finding provider match for insurance, and length of time to get to provider's office. Utilizes 2022 National Health Interview Survey to break down healthcare access barriers according to sex, age, race/ethnicity, family income, education, employment, insurance status, and urbanization level, including large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium and small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan.
Author(s): Amanda E. Ng, Dzifa Adjaye-Gbewonyo, James M. Dahlhamer
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Healthiest Communities 2024
Presents data and comparative rankings for urban and rural counties describing population health, health equity, education, housing, food and nutrition, and environment, among other indicators. Includes peer group rankings for rural high-performing and up-and-coming counties. Offers searchable county data at the bottom of the page by county name or ZIP code.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. News & World Report
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Palliative Care in Rural Communities
Presents the CARE (Complex, Access, Resourceful, Extraordinary) Framework to highlight the challenges and benefits of healthcare delivery in rural communities. Highlights multiple models for palliative care outside acute care settings with consideration for the CARE Framework.
Author(s): Tracy Fasolino, Kathleen Valentine, Megan E. Mayfield, William E. Rosa, Anne Koci
Citation: American Journal of Nursing, 128(4), 50-55
Date: 07/2024
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Factors Associated With Surveillance Testing in Individuals With COVID-19 Symptoms During the Last Leg of the Pandemic: Multivariable Regression Analysis
Examines demographic, clinical, and behavioral factors associated with COVID-19 testing in a predominantly rural, underserved population in West Virginia between May and November 2022. Utilizes Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations program (RADx-UP2) survey data of 2103 individuals. Includes a geospatial analysis of associations between county-level community distress and likelihood of being symptomatic when presenting for testing.
Author(s): Timothy Dotson, Brad Price, Brian Witrick, et al.
Citation: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 2024(10), e52762
Date: 07/2024
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Differences in Lifestyle Behaviors, Quality of Life, and Access to Healthcare among Rural and Urban Cancer Survivors
Examines lifestyle behaviors, healthcare access, quality of life, and psychological distress among 188 rural and 242 urban cancer survivors. Discusses rural-urban differences in obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, factors influencing access to care, and more.
Author(s): Tiffany D. Ho, Bonny Morris, Kristina L. Tatum, et al.
Citation: Preventive Oncology & Epidemiology, 2(1), 2374967
Date: 07/2024
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An REH Conversion Story: Helena Regional Medical Center
Profiles Helena Regional Medical Center, in Phillips County, Arkansas, and its transition from a prospective payment system (PPS) hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Summarizes the perspective of the hospital's former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as the facility navigated the change in status, including obstacles, financial and operational impacts, and advantages to operating as an REH.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Tracey Dorff, Anna Anna, Janice Walters
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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An REH Conversion Story: Mercy Hospital
Profiles Mercy Hospital, in Moundridge, Kansas, and its transition from a prospective payment system (PPS) hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Summarizes an interview with Aaron Herbel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mercy Hospital, regarding the experience of converting to REH status. Covers the conversion timeline, the involvement of hospital and community stakeholders, and the opening of a walk-in clinic that coincided with the REH conversion.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Tracey Dorff, Anna Anna, Janice Walters
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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An REH Conversion Story: Harper County Hospital
Profiles Oklahoma's Harper County Hospital and its transition from a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Summarizes an interview with Kevin O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Harper County Hospital, regarding the experience of converting to REH status. Covers the hospital's financial position before conversion, including limitations to being a county-owned hospital; the exploration of the REH designation; and the financial and operational impacts of the REH designation, including services added by the hospital after the conversion.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Expanding America's Bandwidth: Gaps in Rural and Underserved Communities
Discusses the availability of broadband, devices, and digital skills and their impact on communities. Describes barriers to connectivity across rural and underserved areas and the federal funding programs designated for infrastructure development and internet adoption.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
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Veterans in Focus: Disability and Veterans in Rural America
Fact sheet highlighting 2018-2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates related to rural disabled veterans. Includes data on service-connected disability, geography including rural and urban comparisons, and access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities. Discusses opportunities for Centers for Independent Living.
Author(s): Hannah W. Pepprock, Lillie Greiman
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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