Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce
Federal Policy Priorities to Strengthen Rural Health and Maximize Rural Health Transformation Program Investments
Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Collaborations Between Healthcare and Public Health in Rural Settings
Presents the results of 24 interviews discussing barriers and facilitators of collaborations between rural health departments and healthcare organizations. Discusses the contexts where collaboration makes sense, areas of collaboration, collaboration structure, and factors influencing positive or negative collaborations. Factors include workforce, funding and resources, and mission alignment.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Rachel Dean, Kayla M. Alvis, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(7)
Date: 07/2026
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Presents the results of 24 interviews discussing barriers and facilitators of collaborations between rural health departments and healthcare organizations. Discusses the contexts where collaboration makes sense, areas of collaboration, collaboration structure, and factors influencing positive or negative collaborations. Factors include workforce, funding and resources, and mission alignment.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Rachel Dean, Kayla M. Alvis, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(7)
Date: 07/2026
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A Guide to GME Development in Rural and Underserved Areas
Offers a roadmap for establishing, expanding, or strengthening Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs in communities with limited access to healthcare. Highlights resources, tools, and best practices to align GME programs with workforce needs, strengthen physician pipelines, and improve access to care. Requires free account registration to access document.
Author(s): Laney McDougal, James Clardy, Deborah Clements, Alan Douglass, Lori Rodefeld
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, Teaching Health Center Technical Assistance Center
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Offers a roadmap for establishing, expanding, or strengthening Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs in communities with limited access to healthcare. Highlights resources, tools, and best practices to align GME programs with workforce needs, strengthen physician pipelines, and improve access to care. Requires free account registration to access document.
Author(s): Laney McDougal, James Clardy, Deborah Clements, Alan Douglass, Lori Rodefeld
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, Teaching Health Center Technical Assistance Center
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Provider Perspectives on a Tobacco-Free Workplace Program in Healthcare Settings Serving Rural and Medically Underserved Areas of Texas: A Mixed Methods Study on Perceived Resource Availability and Value
Analyzes healthcare provider perspectives on the Taking Rural Texas Tobacco Free program, a capacity building program for reducing tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among healthcare providers, patients, and visitors in rural or medically underserved areas of Texas. Provides data and interview excerpts from 347 substance use treatment center and medical healthcare center staff.
Author(s): Abigail E. Bergey, Isabel Martinez Leal, Maggie Britton, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 898
Date: 07/2026
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Analyzes healthcare provider perspectives on the Taking Rural Texas Tobacco Free program, a capacity building program for reducing tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among healthcare providers, patients, and visitors in rural or medically underserved areas of Texas. Provides data and interview excerpts from 347 substance use treatment center and medical healthcare center staff.
Author(s): Abigail E. Bergey, Isabel Martinez Leal, Maggie Britton, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 898
Date: 07/2026
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Rural Health Workforce Development Through the AHEC Scholars Model
Examines the impact of the Indiana AHEC Scholars program on student intent to practice in a rural community. Analyzes 2018-2023 AHEC Scholars student survey data and provides respondent feedback regarding plans for rural health employment. Discusses the importance of rural education and training to develop the rural health workforce.
Author(s): Danielle Bruno, Taylor O'Shaughnessy, Jennifer D. Taylor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70193
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of the Indiana AHEC Scholars program on student intent to practice in a rural community. Analyzes 2018-2023 AHEC Scholars student survey data and provides respondent feedback regarding plans for rural health employment. Discusses the importance of rural education and training to develop the rural health workforce.
Author(s): Danielle Bruno, Taylor O'Shaughnessy, Jennifer D. Taylor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70193
Date: 07/2026
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Georgia Obstetrics & Gynecology Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on obstetricians and gynecologists in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas, and obstetricians and gynecologists rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on obstetricians and gynecologists in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas, and obstetricians and gynecologists rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Georgia Internal Medicine Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on internal medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and internal medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on internal medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and internal medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Georgia General Surgery Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on general surgeons in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and general surgeon rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on general surgeons in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and general surgeon rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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An Exploratory Analysis of U.S. Health System Workforce Trends
Examines the impact of hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and changes in health system affiliations on workforce availability. Utilizes 2018 and 2020-2023 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data to examine hospital system membership and system workforce characteristics. Provides breakdowns of primary care physician, all physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce supply per bed according to hospital characteristics such as census region, ownership, operating margin, and rurality.
Author(s): Deborah Odihi, Tyler Malone
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the impact of hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and changes in health system affiliations on workforce availability. Utilizes 2018 and 2020-2023 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data to examine hospital system membership and system workforce characteristics. Provides breakdowns of primary care physician, all physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce supply per bed according to hospital characteristics such as census region, ownership, operating margin, and rurality.
Author(s): Deborah Odihi, Tyler Malone
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Georgia Emergency Medicine Fact Sheet: Based on 2023-2024 Physician Licensure Data
Provides statistics on emergency medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and emergency medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Provides statistics on emergency medicine physicians in Georgia, based on data from the 2023-2024 Physician Survey. Includes maps showing counties that are nonmetropolitan areas and emergency medicine physician rate per 100,000 population, by county.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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