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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Sparta Community Hospital Spotlight
Describes how the Sparta Community Hospital worked to identify the social determinants of health in its community. Discusses the addition of a mobile clinic to increase access to primary care, address barriers, and advance health equity. Transcript available below description.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Challenges and Recommendations for Improving Access to Evidence-Based COPD Management among Rural Veterans: Rural Primary Care Provider Perspectives
Highlights a study on the perspectives of primary care providers serving rural veterans on the challenges of providing evidence-based COPD management care in rural communities. Details key barriers and makes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Talitha Wilson, R. Adams Dudley, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38, 2843-2845
Date: 04/2023
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2022 Alaska Community Needs Assessment
Results of a February 2023 survey to gather household-level data on individualized, local needs in the areas of education, employment, workforce development, food security, and access to healthcare resources. Features demographics and statistics on disabilities, poverty, education level, rural housing, healthcare access, deaths of despair, substance use, and supply and demand of dental, mental health, and primary care providers.
Author(s): Daniel O'Brien
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.
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Effect of Rurality and Travel Distance on Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy for Unilateral Breast Cancer
Analyzes the relationship between travel time and rurality for breast cancer patients seeking contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). Utilizes 2007-2017 National Cancer Database data to examine demographic factors, patient rurality, surgery characteristics, and more.
Author(s): Madison M. Wahlen, Ingrid M. Lizarraga, Amanda R. Kahl, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 34, 171-186
Date: 04/2023
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Implications of COVID-19 on Safety-Net Oral Health Services
Examines COVID-19 pandemic impacts on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and other safety-net dental providers. Describes the challenges safety-net providers face in delivering care to underserved and rural communities, and examines impacts on safety-net providers offering oral health services through mobile programs. Features statistics on FQHCs offering oral health services, with breakdowns by region.
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Simona Surdu, Theekshana Fernando, Sai Sindhura Gundavarapu, Alex Romero
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Best Practices for COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing
Summarizes findings of an environmental scan of testing and vaccination policies and programs serving people who are medically or socially at disproportionate risk for COVID-19 and related adverse outcomes. Identifies populations at disproportionate risk, including rural residents, and their barriers to COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccination, and routine vaccination. Describes programs that aim to overcome these barriers and increase access to testing and vaccination services. Discuss the implications of these programs' strategies and approaches for future pandemics and public health crises.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Challenges and Solutions for Disaster Behavioral Health in Rural and Remote Communities
Describes the scope and diversity of rural and remote populations across the nation, highlighting sources of strength and struggle, including the effects of stigma, for rural Americans and rural healthcare providers. Explores potential approaches to disaster behavioral health in rural and remote areas, including governmental and policy approaches, community-based approaches, and telemedicine.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
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Evaluation of the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model Second Annual Report (Implementation Year 1)
Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's first implementation year, July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum people with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Insight Policy Research
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Midwives: Information on Births, Workforce, and Midwifery Education
Presents data on midwife-attended births, the midwifery workforce, and challenges to obtaining midwifery care. Discusses midwifery education programs, the number of students in these programs, midwifery educational challenges, and available federal financial support through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS). Describes challenges to measuring the quality of maternal healthcare, including midwifery care.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S. – An Exploration of Oral Health Status, Dental Needs, Utilization of Dental Services, and Workforce
Report highlights the factors affecting the oral health of Hispanic and Latino populations in the U.S. Explores access, healthcare utilization, and workforce issues, among others. Discusses the use of emergency departments for oral health issues in rural areas, as well as access issues faced by migrants.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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