Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce supply and demand
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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The University of Arizona Center for Rural Health: Annual Report FY 2026
Highlights the Center for Rural Health's accomplishments in fiscal year 2026 and describes upcoming challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Author(s): Daniel Derksen, Mona Arora, Leila Barraza, et al.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Highlights the Center for Rural Health's accomplishments in fiscal year 2026 and describes upcoming challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Author(s): Daniel Derksen, Mona Arora, Leila Barraza, et al.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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2026 Georgia Medical School Graduate Survey Report
Results of a survey designed to inform policymakers, medical school and graduate medical education administrators, and other agencies about the medical school pipeline, using data from Georgia's 5 medical schools. Provides insight on why medical students chose a specialty and residency site and how many intend to practice in Georgia when training is complete. Features statistics on percentages of students who intend to practice in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Chet Bhasin, Leanna Greenwood, LePrissa Moore, G.E. Alan Dever
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Results of a survey designed to inform policymakers, medical school and graduate medical education administrators, and other agencies about the medical school pipeline, using data from Georgia's 5 medical schools. Provides insight on why medical students chose a specialty and residency site and how many intend to practice in Georgia when training is complete. Features statistics on percentages of students who intend to practice in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Chet Bhasin, Leanna Greenwood, LePrissa Moore, G.E. Alan Dever
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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UAMS Regional Campuses: 2024-25 Annual Report
Reports on the 2024-2025 activities of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses, including discussion of health professions training, pathway programs, recruiting, education, and more. Includes an overview of rural programming and research and provides county-level data on practice location of physician graduates.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Campuses
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Reports on the 2024-2025 activities of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses, including discussion of health professions training, pathway programs, recruiting, education, and more. Includes an overview of rural programming and research and provides county-level data on practice location of physician graduates.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Campuses
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Wisconsin 2026 Healthcare Workforce Report
Provides information on the healthcare workforce supply in Wisconsin, the workforce pipeline, and licensure issues, as well as strategies focused on education and training and investments in telehealth. Includes data on the percentage of physicians who work in rural Wisconsin.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce
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Provides information on the healthcare workforce supply in Wisconsin, the workforce pipeline, and licensure issues, as well as strategies focused on education and training and investments in telehealth. Includes data on the percentage of physicians who work in rural Wisconsin.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce
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Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce Loan Repayment Programs Report
Analysis of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce's service-cancelable loan repayment programs for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, behavioral health providers, and nurse faculty. Features statistics on award recipients with breakdowns by provider type in rural counties as of 2025, including by count and percentage.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Analysis of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce's service-cancelable loan repayment programs for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, behavioral health providers, and nurse faculty. Features statistics on award recipients with breakdowns by provider type in rural counties as of 2025, including by count and percentage.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Maternal Health Access and Workforce Capacity in Rural Hawaii: Focus Group Findings Report
Discusses how maternal and infant health access and workforce availability vary across Hawaii's islands via focus group discussion of healthcare providers and other interested parties. Highlights barriers related to affordability, travel, workforce pathways, and more.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Hawaii State Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, Hawaii State Rural Health Association
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Discusses how maternal and infant health access and workforce availability vary across Hawaii's islands via focus group discussion of healthcare providers and other interested parties. Highlights barriers related to affordability, travel, workforce pathways, and more.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Hawaii State Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, Hawaii State Rural Health Association
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America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2026
Presents 56 measures of health and well-being from 25 data sources, to provide a picture of older adult health across the country, with comparisons by metro and nonmetro areas. Features insights on factors that shape the health of older adults in rural areas, and includes a state-level map with shadings showing ranges of rural population age 65 and older as of 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief, Risk of Isolation County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Presents 56 measures of health and well-being from 25 data sources, to provide a picture of older adult health across the country, with comparisons by metro and nonmetro areas. Features insights on factors that shape the health of older adults in rural areas, and includes a state-level map with shadings showing ranges of rural population age 65 and older as of 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief, Risk of Isolation County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Reducing Behavioral Health Licensure Barriers Through Supervision Incentives
Examines the impact of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska's American Rescue Plan Act supervision incentive program to promote school clinical supervision of behavioral health professionals. Provides information on organizational characteristics and supervision barriers of 19 Nebraska organizations who received funding assistance to supervise provisionally licensed behavioral health providers. Discusses the importance of supporting supervisory capacity in rural areas.
Author(s): Jessica Buche, Caitlyn Wayment, Sydney Buckland, Marley Doyle, Melissa Tibbits
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health
Date: 2026
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Examines the impact of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska's American Rescue Plan Act supervision incentive program to promote school clinical supervision of behavioral health professionals. Provides information on organizational characteristics and supervision barriers of 19 Nebraska organizations who received funding assistance to supervise provisionally licensed behavioral health providers. Discusses the importance of supporting supervisory capacity in rural areas.
Author(s): Jessica Buche, Caitlyn Wayment, Sydney Buckland, Marley Doyle, Melissa Tibbits
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health
Date: 2026
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Minnesota's Hospital Nursing Workforce: A Study on Turnover and Exits among Minnesota's Hospital-Based Nurses
Provides an overview of the nursing profession in Minnesota, focusing on workforce supply, employment characteristics, nurse retention, and strategies to improve job satisfaction. Includes comparisons of job satisfaction of nurses in rural versus urban settings.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Provides an overview of the nursing profession in Minnesota, focusing on workforce supply, employment characteristics, nurse retention, and strategies to improve job satisfaction. Includes comparisons of job satisfaction of nurses in rural versus urban settings.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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