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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency preparedness and response

Analysis of an Innovative Approach to Target Rural Communities in Public Health Funding
Explores the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) funding to address COVID-19 in rural communities and its impact. Presents findings from interviews with federal and state officials regarding the development of this dedicated funding, its impact on state behavior and rural communities, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
Author(s): Timothy H. Callaghan, Gogoal Falia, Earl Greer, Maya Ramy, David Washburn
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Emergency Preparedness in Rural Communities
Policy position paper discussing emergency preparedness for rural communities. Covers fostering community involvement and a rural culture of readiness, communication, training of health professionals and community residents, community health workers, and research.
Author(s): Justin Kearley, Kate Hill, Joanie Perkins
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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The State of Health in Tennessee: 2023 Annual Report to the 113th Tennessee General Assembly
Provides a comprehensive overview of health in Tennessee, including health outcomes of individuals and information on the health of the state's healthcare system. Includes statistics on rural hospitals that have closed in recent years, and those at risk of closure as of 2022. Features county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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COVID-19: HHS Funds Allocated to Support Disproportionately Affected Communities
Describes how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration, Indian Health Service, and Office of Minority Health allocated funding to support communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Explores how five selected states - Arizona, Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Washington - allocated funds from five CDC programs to support COVID-19 response efforts in disproportionately affected communities, including rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Impacts of Critical Access Hospital Independence and System Ownership during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Summarizes findings from a survey of 155 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives regarding experiences and challenges responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of healthcare system affiliation on the CAHs' response to COVID, including the advantages and disadvantages of system affiliation and independence.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Abigail Wenninger
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Examining Rural Telehealth During the Public Health Emergency
Examines the use of telehealth visits for rural and urban fee-for-service Medicare enrollees between January 2018 and June 2021. Compares telehealth utilization before the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2019) with telehealth utilization from January 2020 to June 2021. Describes the demographic, geographical, and technological characteristics of telehealth services that were associated with increased telehealth use. Explores the extent to which the increased implementation and utilization of telehealth during the PHE impacted the cost of patient care and provider utilization.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare
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Hospital Cyber Resiliency Initiative: Landscape Analysis
Report evaluating current capabilities and preparedness for cybersecurity resiliency in hospitals. Discusses the growing threat of cyber attacks, cybersecurity practices adoption, outdated technology, cybersecurity insurance costs, cybersecurity workforce challenges, and more. Discusses rural throughout.
Author(s): Erik Decker, Robert Wood, Syed Mohiuddin, Douglas Nock, Akshay Venugopalan
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Healthcare & Public Health Sector Coordinating Council, HHS 45(d), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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First Responder Network Authority Roadmap
Describes First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) programs, activities, and investments to support the creation and evolution of a dedicated and differentiated broadband communications network. Discusses efforts to enhance coverage in rural areas.
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: FirstNet Authority
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Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity: Lessons Learned in Addressing Inequities in Heat-Related Climate Change Impacts: Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief
Summary of a National Academies' Environmental Health Matters Initiative workshop in June 2023 discussing health equity for heat-related climate change. Highlights challenges with data gathering, recent policy changes, capacity building, and partnerships. Includes discussion of rural specific challenges, occupational health for farmworkers and other outdoor workers, and healthcare access.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Navigating Infodemics and Building Trust During Public Health Emergencies
Proceedings of a workshop focused on public health infodemics, their history and impact, infodemics during public health emergencies, and tools and practices used to address infodemics. Includes discussions about building trust related to infodemics, particularly in the cultural context of rural, tribal, and/or underserved areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Sciences Policy
Date: 2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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