Rural Health
Resources by Topic: COVID-19
Keeping Patients with Confidence: Using Telehealth to Treat Patients in Rural Georgia
Interview with Dr. Matt Lyon, of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Discusses the Digital Care Network, linking specialists to rural primary care physicians and enabling more patients to stay in local hospitals. Includes discussion of the ways in which the platform was used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): John Hick
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE)
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Interview with Dr. Matt Lyon, of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Discusses the Digital Care Network, linking specialists to rural primary care physicians and enabling more patients to stay in local hospitals. Includes discussion of the ways in which the platform was used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): John Hick
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE)
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Understanding Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation for At-Home COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations During the Pandemic
Evaluates how access to COVID-19 testing barriers, facilitators, and motivations varied among underserved adults in Utah via interviews with 19 low-income Utahns. Includes rural and urban data comparisons and interview excerpts.
Author(s): Joni H. Pierce, Peter Taber, Leticia Stevens, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), ibag033
Date: 06/2026
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Evaluates how access to COVID-19 testing barriers, facilitators, and motivations varied among underserved adults in Utah via interviews with 19 low-income Utahns. Includes rural and urban data comparisons and interview excerpts.
Author(s): Joni H. Pierce, Peter Taber, Leticia Stevens, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), ibag033
Date: 06/2026
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Rural‐Urban and Racial‐Ethnic Differences in Tele‐Behavioral Health Access for Medicaid Beneficiaries
Examines how rural versus urban and racial and ethnic tele-behavioral health access varied before and during the early COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico, using March 2019-March 2021 Medicaid claims data. Includes data comparisons of telehealth and in-person visits by demographic group, type of behavioral health service received, and level of broadband connectivity.
Author(s): Margaret Greenwood-Ericksen, Mohammed Quazi, Chloe Slator, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70155
Date: 05/2026
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Examines how rural versus urban and racial and ethnic tele-behavioral health access varied before and during the early COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico, using March 2019-March 2021 Medicaid claims data. Includes data comparisons of telehealth and in-person visits by demographic group, type of behavioral health service received, and level of broadband connectivity.
Author(s): Margaret Greenwood-Ericksen, Mohammed Quazi, Chloe Slator, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70155
Date: 05/2026
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Changes in Staffing, Resident Health, Closure, and Financial Performance of Rural Nursing Homes from 2017 to 2022
Examines changes in various characteristics of nursing homes, using data from 2017-2022. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, and small/isolated rural areas.
Author(s): Gulrukh Mehboob, Hari Sharma, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines changes in various characteristics of nursing homes, using data from 2017-2022. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, and small/isolated rural areas.
Author(s): Gulrukh Mehboob, Hari Sharma, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Factors Associated With Mortality in Appalachian Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines neighborhood characteristics related to Appalachian nursing home (NH) mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,259 NHs in Appalachia for COVID-19 death rates and overall mortality, with breakdowns according to NH characteristics, patient sociodemographics, and rurality.
Author(s): Erica Gigas, Baiming Zou, Lorinda A Coombs, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 1-9
Date: 04/2026
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Examines neighborhood characteristics related to Appalachian nursing home (NH) mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 1,259 NHs in Appalachia for COVID-19 death rates and overall mortality, with breakdowns according to NH characteristics, patient sociodemographics, and rurality.
Author(s): Erica Gigas, Baiming Zou, Lorinda A Coombs, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 1-9
Date: 04/2026
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First Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Among Pregnant Tennessee Women by Month of Conception and Urbanization Level: March 2021 - November 2021
Describes rates of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy among Tennessee women with a live birth who conceived from March-November 2021. Features statistics with breakdowns by month and by 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Claudia Valenzuela, Anne K. Driscoll, Elizabeth Harvey, Heather Wingate
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 85-95
Date: 04/2026
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Describes rates of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy among Tennessee women with a live birth who conceived from March-November 2021. Features statistics with breakdowns by month and by 4 levels of population density.
Author(s): Claudia Valenzuela, Anne K. Driscoll, Elizabeth Harvey, Heather Wingate
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 85-95
Date: 04/2026
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Rural Targeted Messaging, Multiplex Salivary Measurement, and Rural Equity in SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing: Protocol Overview of a SeroNet Investigation
Overview of a study protocol to examine the influence of rural-targeted messaging on uptake of serological (antibody) testing for COVID-19, using data of 194 people northern Michigan who viewed either rural-targeted or general didactic videos on antibody testing. Discusses how the study will examine the role of rural messaging on receptivity of antibody testing, among other factors.
Author(s): Leah Maschino, Kelly A. Hirko, Christopher D. Heaney, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 50, 101627
Date: 04/2026
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Overview of a study protocol to examine the influence of rural-targeted messaging on uptake of serological (antibody) testing for COVID-19, using data of 194 people northern Michigan who viewed either rural-targeted or general didactic videos on antibody testing. Discusses how the study will examine the role of rural messaging on receptivity of antibody testing, among other factors.
Author(s): Leah Maschino, Kelly A. Hirko, Christopher D. Heaney, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 50, 101627
Date: 04/2026
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Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Respiratory Virus Season
Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Acute Myocardial Infarction in Medicare Beneficiaries During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines how acute myocardial infarction incidence and outcomes differed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2018-2023 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiary data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R. J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e264122
Date: 04/2026
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Examines how acute myocardial infarction incidence and outcomes differed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2018-2023 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiary data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R. J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e264122
Date: 04/2026
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Mapping Spatial and Social Inequities of Long COVID Across the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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Examines spatiotemporal variables and social determinants as correlated with the Omicron variant and long COVID health risk. Analyzes 5,652,474 COVID-19 cases and 41,694 long COVID cases according to year, location, U.S. region, risk level of county, and social determinants, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Zhetao Chen, Bingnan Lib, Yewen Chen, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 56, 101401
Date: 04/2026
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