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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

Rural Hospital Profitability during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Requires Careful Interpretation
Findings brief describing the trend of rural hospital profitability in 2011-19 and explaining why possible increases in reported profitability during the pandemic (2020-21) may mask the long-term financial challenges of rural hospitals. Features statistics including median total margin of all rural hospitals and percentage of rural hospitals with a total negative margin by year from 2011-2021, and estimated distribution of provider relief funding to hospitals as of February 2021, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): George Pink, Susie Gurzenda, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Over Two-Thirds of the Nation's Counties Had Natural Decrease in 2021
Presents county-level population changes from 2020-2021 based on U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2021 Population Estimates data. Reports on micropolitan and metropolitan areas and discusses impact of aging populations and COVID-19 on counties. Includes a U.S. map depicting percent population change by county.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Burnout, and Professional Quality of Life among the Hospital Workforce During a Global Health Pandemic
Study examining rates of anxiety, stress, burnout, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic among 771 hospital staff in North Dakota, based on a survey conducted in the summer of 2021. Offers rural and urban comparisons of compassion satisfaction and burnout.
Author(s): Daniel Kelly, Shawnda Schroeder, Kristen Leighton
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 795-804
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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Weight Outcomes of NU-HOME: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Prevent Obesity among Rural Children
Reports on impacts of the NU-HOME collaborative for prevention of childhood obesity in rural children, based on data from 114 parent-child pairs in Minnesota. Explores demographic characteristics, food insecurity, and quality of meals of the participants, among other data points. Discusses the effect of family-level interventions on overweight/obesity status, body mass index (BMI), and percent body fat.
Author(s): Jayne A. Fulkerson, Melissa Horning, Daheia J. Barr-Anderson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19, 29
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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Do Rural Hospitals Have An Advantage During A Pandemic?
Analysis of the challenges, advantages, and policy landscape affecting rural hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses workforce issues, community relationships, and emergency preparedness.
Author(s): Miriam Krikorian Atkinson, John L. Hick, Sara J. Singer, Nicholas V. Cagliuso, Paul D. Biddinger
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program: Directory, 2021-2025
Provides contact information and brief overviews of 61 initiatives funded under the Rural Health Care Outreach Services grant program in the 2021-2025 funding cycle. Includes projects in the Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative (HRHI) track, which focus on rural health disparities related to the five leading causes of avoidable death: heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke. Also includes projects in the Outreach track that address a wide variety of rural healthcare needs.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Rural Adults Report Worse Employment and Economic Impacts from COVID-19 than Urban Adults
Brief examining rural and urban differences in the impacts of COVID-19 on physical and mental health, financial well-being, employment, and social relationships among adults age 18-64. Analyzes data from the 2021 National Wellbeing Survey of 4,014 adults.
Author(s): Shannon M. Monnat
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Population Research Network
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Exploring Perceived Risk for COVID-19 and Its Role in Protective Behavior and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Qualitative Study after the First Wave
Presents a study on the perceived risk of COVID-19 among rural Kentuckians during the first wave of the pandemic. Explores attitudes about protective behavior and vaccine hesitancy. Bases conclusions on interviews conducted by phone between July 3rd and July 24th of 2020.
Author(s): Naomi J. Patterson, Valerie A. Paz-Soldan, Richard Oberhelman, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 503
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2022
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Telehealth Has Played an Outsized Role Meeting Mental Health Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Explores usage of telehealth for physical and mental health outpatient visits between March 2019 and August 2021. Figure 3 shows use of mental health and substance use telehealth visits versus other outpatient telehealth visits, with rural versus urban comparisons. Includes a discussion about payment models for telehealth via private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Author(s): Justin Lo, Matthew Rae, Krutika Amin, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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