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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: COVID-19

Care Fragmentation and Readmission Mortality and Length of Stay Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the National Readmissions Database, 2018–2020
Examines fragmented readmissions, in which a patient returns to a hospital that is different than their prior admission, and the impact on in-hospital mortality and longer lengths-of-stay (LOS). Analyzes readmission data during the COVID-19 pandemic against 2018-2019 data and includes breakdowns according to patient sex, age, income, insurance status, and health condition, as well as hospital type and large metropolitan area, small metropolitan area, micropolitan, or non-metropolitan/non-micropolitan location.
Author(s): Sara Turbow, Tiffany Walker, Steven Culler, Mohammed K. Ali
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 24, 622
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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COVID-19 Infection and Incident Diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native people: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Examines associations between COVID-19 infection and diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. Utilizes the Indian Health Service's (IHS) National Patient Information Reporting System to analyze incident diabetes among 3 participant cohorts: pre-pandemic, pandemic but no COVID-19 infection, and pandemic with COVID-19 infection. Discusses the relationship between COVID-19 infection and new-onset diabetes in AI/AN populations.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Mary E. Lacy, Sara Bressler, Ian Blake, Uzo Chukwuma, Michael G. Bruce
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 33, 100727
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Evaluation of the Eviction Protection Grant Program: Interim Report
Examines the impact of the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP) and its work to stabilize families following the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of EPGP from 2021-2023 and focuses on characteristics of EPGP organizations and households served by the program, challenges of implementing the program, and strategies and lessons learned. Includes information on EPGPs in rural and tribal areas.
Author(s): Hiren Nisar, Arpita Chakravorty, Dennis Okyere, et al.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Addressing the Spectrum of Opioid Misuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery in Rural Washington State Communities: Provider Identified Barriers and Needs
Highlights a study on provider-identified barriers to opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, and prevention in rural Washington State. Draws conclusions from survey data taken from July-September 2020 and features some discussion of COVID-19 on top of other pre-existing barriers. Breaks down data by role in healthcare workforce, work setting, and substance focus, among other factors.
Author(s): Liat S. Kriegel, Katherine Hampilos, Elizabeth Weybright, et al.
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal, 60(3), 600-607
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Differences in Long-Term Mortality and Readmission Following COVID-19 Hospitalization, 2020 to 2023
Analyzes rural-urban disparities in mortality and hospital readmission among 9,325 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to July 2022, with follow-up data through May 2023. Includes data on demographic and clinical factors associated with rural dwelling.
Author(s): Mohammed Yousufuddin, Maryam Mahmood, Ebrahim Barkoudah, et al.
Citation: Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 11(5)
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Primary Care Providers' Experiences Treating Opioid Use Disorder Using Telehealth in the Height of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents a study of the experiences of primary care providers who used telehealth for opioid use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Draws on the insights of participants from rural and urban counties in Kentucky and Arkansas and compares the experiences of rural and urban providers.
Author(s): Sarah Alexandra Marshall, Lachan E. Siebenmorgen, Nickolas Zaller, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 15
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Symptoms of the Disease: The Epidemiological, Economic, and Public Health Impacts of COVID-19 on the Battle Born State
Reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada between March 2020 and December 2022 on various healthcare, economic, and sociodemographic indicators. Includes rural and urban comparisons related to case and mortality rates, telehealth utilization, homelessness, and child welfare.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
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Vitamin D Levels and SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Medically Underserved Populations in the Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study
Analyzes associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and vitamin D status among 3187 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients, with comparisons by race and other demographic factors. Discusses COVID-19 disparities among underserved populations. Includes data on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vitamin D deficiency among rural people.
Author(s): Makella S. Coudray, Shantoy Hansel, Salvatore Alesci, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 16(4), 639
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Systemic Effects of the COVID Pandemic on Rural Black American Men's Interpersonal Relationships: A Phenomenological Examination
Evaluates the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on Black men's relational health from interviews conducted in 2020 and 2021 with 17 Black men living in rural Georgia. Includes discussion of mental health, interpersonal and health behaviors, and the significance of Black men's cultural experiences for pandemic recovery interventions.
Author(s): Michael G. Curtis, Elizabeth Wieling, Chalandra Bryant, Rosalyn Denise Campbell, Steven M. Kogan
Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(4), e0297876
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Hospitals
Explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural hospital financial performance. Presents data on profitability and patient care margin trends from 2017 to 2022. Describes characteristics of rural hospitals in three categories of patient care margins: those that always had negative margins, always had positive margins, and those with mixed margins. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 relief funding on total hospital margins.
Author(s): Saleema A. Karim, Nathan W. Carroll, Paula H. Song, Adam Atherly
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, Department of Health Administration at the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Health Professions
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