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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency medical services

The Two Georgias: Addressing Health Equity in Rural Georgia
A series of articles discussing health disparities between rural and urban Georgia. Includes sections devoted to literature reviews, qualitative research, population science, needs assessments, and public health practices. Topics range from rural hospital closure, access and use of EMS services, and teen pregnancy, to social determinants of health as connected to childcare programs.
Citation: Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association, 5(4), 294-404
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Public Health Association
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Secondary Overtriage in a Statewide Rural Trauma System
Analyzes secondary overtriage in West Virginia hospitals to determine the efficiency of a statewide rural trauma system. Table 1 details non-transfer and transfer patient characteristics and table 5 details factors linked with secondary overtriage.
Author(s): Jorge Con, Dustin Long, Emily Sasala, et al.
Citation: Journal of Surgical Research, 198(2), 462-467
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
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Report to Congress: Evaluations of Hospitals' Ambulance Data on Medicare Cost Reports and Feasibility of Obtaining Cost Data from All Ambulance Providers and Suppliers
Exploration of the use of cost surveys and reports to collect data on ambulance services, examination of development of a standard cost reporting tool for providers of services and suppliers of ground ambulance services, and examination of the ability to furnish cost data by various types of ambulance providers of services and suppliers, especially for rural and super-rural providers. Features statistics from fiscal years 2007-2012 relating to costs, number of trips by type of hospital, distribution of provider/supplier trip volume, origin-destination pairs, and barriers experienced by people in geographically isolated areas.
Date: 09/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Personnel in Rural Areas: Results from a Survey in Nine States
Results of a 2008 Centers for Disease Control survey comparing patterns of supply and demand in rural and urban areas for prehospital emergency response personnel and examining involvement of medical directors and availability of medical consultation. Includes statistics on organizations, personnel, and types of medical emergencies, with breakdowns by four population density categories.
Author(s): Davis G. Patterson, Susan M. Skillman, Meredith A. Fordyce
Date: 08/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Healthy People 2020: A Companion Document to Healthy People 2020, Volume 1
Provides a rural focus for the Healthy People 2020 priorities. Includes overviews of the top 10 rural health priority areas identified by rural stakeholders. (Volume 2 discusses priorities 11-20.) Topics addressed include: health insurance, primary care, emergency services, nutrition and weight status, diabetes, mental health, substance abuse, heart disease and stroke, physical activity, older adults, maternal and child health, and tobacco use. Each overview includes reviews of the relevant literature and models that rural communities can use to address the issues. Document is available for free download, after providing brief information about intended use.
Author(s): Jane N. Bolin, Gail Bellamy, Alva O. Ferdinand, Bita Kash, Janet W. Helduser
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Integrating Safety in the Rural Transportation Planning Process
Provides techniques for integrating safety into the planning and program process at the local and state level to assure rural roads are safe and accessible for a variety of multimodal needs including emergency medical services and use by fire departments and law enforcement.
Author(s): Nicole Waldheim, Susan Herbel, Carrie Kissel
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Transit Administration
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How EMS in Rural Methow Valley, Washington, Coped with a Devastating Wildfire
Describes the emergency medical service (EMS) response in the aftermath of a wildfire, in which patients and providers were cut off from hospitals, 911 coverage, and power. Shows the importance of advanced preparedness and planning by rural EMS agencies.
Author(s): Cindy Button
Citation: JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services), 39(10), 46-9
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
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Responding to Medical Surge in Rural Communities: Practices for Immediate Bed Availability
Describes strategies and practices that enable local health departments and healthcare organizations serving rural areas to assist their communities during emergencies resulting in medical surge. Explores ways to ensure adequate levels of care for all patients, including telehealth services and integrated information sharing systems.
Date: 09/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Paediatric Trauma on the Last Frontier: An 11-Year Review of Injury Mechanisms, High-Risk Injury Patterns and Outcomes in Alaskan Children
Describes the development of a pediatric trauma system in remote, very rural, and urban Alaska from 2001 to 2011 using trauma data for all children 17 years and under. Includes comparative data for the type of injury and frequency, geographic region, high risk patterns, and outcomes.
Author(s): Christopher W. Snyder, Oliver J. Muensterer, Frank Sacco, Shawn D. Safford
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 73(1)
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
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The New Blue H: A Report on the Findings of the 2014 Rural Health Workgroup, a Partner Project Between the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Hospital Association
Outlines a comprehensive proposal addressing access to healthcare for rural populations in Washington. Considers the entire continuum of care from wellness and prevention to acute and long-term care, and includes a focus on hospitals and new models of healthcare delivery.
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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