Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce
Small but Essential: Understanding Rural Public Health Workforce Challenges and Strengths From the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey
Examines characteristics of the rural public health workforce. Utilizes 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data to analyze the rural versus urban local health department (LHD) workforce with breakdowns according to demographics, education, employment tenure and type, and intentions to stay.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Stephanie M. Mathis, Michael B. Meit, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 32(1S), S60-S67
Date: 01/2026
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Examines characteristics of the rural public health workforce. Utilizes 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data to analyze the rural versus urban local health department (LHD) workforce with breakdowns according to demographics, education, employment tenure and type, and intentions to stay.
Author(s): Casey P. Balio, Stephanie M. Mathis, Michael B. Meit, Betty Bekemeier
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 32(1S), S60-S67
Date: 01/2026
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Predictors of Inpatient RN Turnover in Rural and Urban VHA Hospitals
A study on the rates and associated factors of registered nursing (RN) workforce turnover in rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. Breaks down data by RN demographic factors, such as age, salary, and experience within the VHA, and hospital factors, such as average age, average base salary, and average number of units worked, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine G. Bay, Chase S. Eck, Melissa K. Knox, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S9-S17
Date: 01/2026
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A study on the rates and associated factors of registered nursing (RN) workforce turnover in rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. Breaks down data by RN demographic factors, such as age, salary, and experience within the VHA, and hospital factors, such as average age, average base salary, and average number of units worked, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine G. Bay, Chase S. Eck, Melissa K. Knox, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S9-S17
Date: 01/2026
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Rural Health Transformation Program: Summary of State RHTP Applications
Provides an overview of the publicly available state applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Identifies national themes from across state applications.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Sellers Dorsey
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Provides an overview of the publicly available state applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Identifies national themes from across state applications.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Sellers Dorsey
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Graduate Medical Education: Information on Initial Distributions of New Medicare-Funded Physician Residency Positions
Explores the distribution of 1,000 new Medicare-funded graduate medical education (GME) residency positions as outlined in Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Describes the number of hospitals that applied for and received additional positions from 2023 through 2025, their characteristics, and benefits and challenges related to the application for and distribution of these additional positions as identified by selected stakeholders.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Explores the distribution of 1,000 new Medicare-funded graduate medical education (GME) residency positions as outlined in Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Describes the number of hospitals that applied for and received additional positions from 2023 through 2025, their characteristics, and benefits and challenges related to the application for and distribution of these additional positions as identified by selected stakeholders.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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State of the Behavioral Health Workforce, 2025
Offers demographic and occupational data on the behavioral health workforce including current and projected shortages. Data sources range from 2022 through 2024. Offers comparisons of shortages between rural and urban counties. Discusses challenges driving workforce shortages.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Offers demographic and occupational data on the behavioral health workforce including current and projected shortages. Data sources range from 2022 through 2024. Offers comparisons of shortages between rural and urban counties. Discusses challenges driving workforce shortages.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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State of the U.S. Health Care Workforce, 2025
Offers demographic data on a variety of health professions from data sources between 2019 and 2024. Examines distribution, education and licensing, and projected shortages for the physician, nursing, and oral health fields. Describes challenges contributing to health workforce shortages. Highlights nonmetropolitan workforce shortages and state by state comparison of physician distribution.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Offers demographic data on a variety of health professions from data sources between 2019 and 2024. Examines distribution, education and licensing, and projected shortages for the physician, nursing, and oral health fields. Describes challenges contributing to health workforce shortages. Highlights nonmetropolitan workforce shortages and state by state comparison of physician distribution.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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State of the U.S. Maternal Health Workforce, 2025
Offers demographic and occupational data on the maternal health workforce. Data sources include various years between 2021 and 2023. Includes current and projected comparisons of the workforce with the female population of childbearing age. Table 4 includes distribution of maternal health physicians compared with the population of women of childbearing age for large metropolitan, medium metropolitan, small metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas in 2023.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Offers demographic and occupational data on the maternal health workforce. Data sources include various years between 2021 and 2023. Includes current and projected comparisons of the workforce with the female population of childbearing age. Table 4 includes distribution of maternal health physicians compared with the population of women of childbearing age for large metropolitan, medium metropolitan, small metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas in 2023.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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State of the Primary Care Workforce, 2025
Offers data on the current state and projected estimates of the future supply of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants offering primary care. Includes demographics as well as current and projected shortages with comparison and metropolitan and nonmetropolitan projections. Discusses challenges impacting the workforce and the impact of primary care on population health. Includes state by state data on the primary care physician workforce.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Offers data on the current state and projected estimates of the future supply of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants offering primary care. Includes demographics as well as current and projected shortages with comparison and metropolitan and nonmetropolitan projections. Discusses challenges impacting the workforce and the impact of primary care on population health. Includes state by state data on the primary care physician workforce.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Rural Public Health Training Plan
Training plan consisting of 6 courses for public health professionals working in rural communities. Covers an overview of rural public health systems, information on partnering with rural communities to develop, build, and disseminate public health communication strategies, leadership and conflict resolution skills, and more. Continuing education credits for this training plan are available through September 2, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Training plan consisting of 6 courses for public health professionals working in rural communities. Covers an overview of rural public health systems, information on partnering with rural communities to develop, build, and disseminate public health communication strategies, leadership and conflict resolution skills, and more. Continuing education credits for this training plan are available through September 2, 2027, via CDC TRAIN.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Use of Return on Investment Analysis on Community Health Worker Programs
Describes ways in which a return on investment analysis helps evaluate the economic impact of community health worker programs. Includes brief descriptions of notable examples.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: MHP Salud
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Describes ways in which a return on investment analysis helps evaluate the economic impact of community health worker programs. Includes brief descriptions of notable examples.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: MHP Salud
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