Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health occupations
Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Nursing Home Residents and Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Influenza Season
Reports on influenza vaccination during the 2024–25 influenza season for nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Provides pooled influenza coverage data by facility for nursing home residents and for nursing home personnel, with data by urbanicity for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Jeneita M. Bell, Kira Barbre, Lu Meng, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(15), 195-201
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on influenza vaccination during the 2024–25 influenza season for nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Provides pooled influenza coverage data by facility for nursing home residents and for nursing home personnel, with data by urbanicity for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Jeneita M. Bell, Kira Barbre, Lu Meng, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(15), 195-201
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Comparing the Care, Distance Traveled, and Health Workforce Clinician Mix for Rural and Urban Commercially Insured Enrollees With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Exploring Systemic Challenges in the Western North Carolina Dental Safety Net: A Qualitative Analysis
Describes experiences of individuals working within the western North Carolina dental safety net, to identify barriers and strategies required to strengthen delivery of oral health care in high-need rural areas. Based on interviews with 17 oral health stakeholders between June-August 2024.
Author(s): Blaire Mirmow, Bill Milner, Nadia Laniado
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 42-59.
Date: 04/2026
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Describes experiences of individuals working within the western North Carolina dental safety net, to identify barriers and strategies required to strengthen delivery of oral health care in high-need rural areas. Based on interviews with 17 oral health stakeholders between June-August 2024.
Author(s): Blaire Mirmow, Bill Milner, Nadia Laniado
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 42-59.
Date: 04/2026
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A Roadmap for Building and Implementing a Comprehensive State Graduate Medical Education Strategy: Actionable Steps to Align Investments with Workforce Needs
Offers an evidence-based framework that organizes a graduate medical education (GME) growth strategy into 5 stages. Can be used as part of federal Rural Health Transformation Program activities to strengthen workforce recruitment and retention and to improve healthcare access in rural areas. Table 1 shows state GME models and technical assistance initiatives.
Author(s): Lori Rodefeld, Emily M. Hawes, Raquel Davis, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Offers an evidence-based framework that organizes a graduate medical education (GME) growth strategy into 5 stages. Can be used as part of federal Rural Health Transformation Program activities to strengthen workforce recruitment and retention and to improve healthcare access in rural areas. Table 1 shows state GME models and technical assistance initiatives.
Author(s): Lori Rodefeld, Emily M. Hawes, Raquel Davis, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties
Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Workplace Violence Prevention: Impacting Providers and Patients, with Kathy Griffis
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Kathy Griffis, Chief Operating Officer of Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Focuses on her facility's recent efforts to reduce violence and ensure safe healthcare environments for their staff and patients. Part 3 in a 3-part series from the December 2025 Health Innovation Potluck held in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Kathy Griffis, Chief Operating Officer of Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Focuses on her facility's recent efforts to reduce violence and ensure safe healthcare environments for their staff and patients. Part 3 in a 3-part series from the December 2025 Health Innovation Potluck held in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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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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Student Enrollment in Rural Medical Schools
Data brief summarizing the distribution of student enrollment in Doctor of Medicine (MD)- and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)-granting schools or sites in rural areas. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural communities.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Randall Longenecker, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Data brief summarizing the distribution of student enrollment in Doctor of Medicine (MD)- and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)-granting schools or sites in rural areas. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural communities.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Randall Longenecker, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Access to Oral Health Care in California: Barriers and Opportunities
Issue brief summarizing the state of oral health care access in California and prior efforts to address this issue. Discusses geographic barriers for people in rural areas, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas in California.
Author(s): Miranda Davis, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Healthforce Center at UCSF
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Issue brief summarizing the state of oral health care access in California and prior efforts to address this issue. Discusses geographic barriers for people in rural areas, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas in California.
Author(s): Miranda Davis, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Healthforce Center at UCSF
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Dental Therapy in the United States as a Public Health Imperative: Perspectives from the Front Lines
Presents a study aiming to describe the role dental therapists play in expanding oral healthcare and provide evidence highlighting the safety and effectiveness of dental therapy for communities lacking access to traditional dental care. Details how dental therapists have been used in tribal and rural communities.
Author(s): Kari Ann Kuntzelman, Andrea Jordan, Elizabeth Branca, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 72-75
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study aiming to describe the role dental therapists play in expanding oral healthcare and provide evidence highlighting the safety and effectiveness of dental therapy for communities lacking access to traditional dental care. Details how dental therapists have been used in tribal and rural communities.
Author(s): Kari Ann Kuntzelman, Andrea Jordan, Elizabeth Branca, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 72-75
Date: 03/2026
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