Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
When the Hospital CEO Becomes the Patient: Rural Maternal Care Up Close
A conversation with Eilidh Pederson, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health, focused on her experience giving birth at a rural Critical Access Hospital. Discusses high-quality maternal healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick, Eilidh Pederson
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
A conversation with Eilidh Pederson, CEO of Western Wisconsin Health, focused on her experience giving birth at a rural Critical Access Hospital. Discusses high-quality maternal healthcare access in rural communities.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Julia Resnick, Eilidh Pederson
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Examining Rural Disparities in Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. Women by Chronological Age: 2002–2022
Presents a study on rural disparities in rates of cigarette smoking among women from 2002 to 2022. Draws data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and examines correlative factors, such as age, educational attainment, and income, among others.
Author(s): Stephen T. Higgins, Tyler G. Erath, Fang Fang Chen, Michael J. DeSarno
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 201, 108359
Date: 12/2025
view details
Presents a study on rural disparities in rates of cigarette smoking among women from 2002 to 2022. Draws data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and examines correlative factors, such as age, educational attainment, and income, among others.
Author(s): Stephen T. Higgins, Tyler G. Erath, Fang Fang Chen, Michael J. DeSarno
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 201, 108359
Date: 12/2025
view details
Who is Performing Routine Screening Endoscopy in Kansas Rural Communities
Examines the types of healthcare practitioners who perform endoscopic screening procedures in rural communities in Kansas. Utilizes survey data from 542 practicing physicians and provides information on their demographics, medical specialty, confidence in performing endoscopic procedures, and more.
Author(s): Todd T. Savolt, Jared Reyes, Siman Antar, Kyle Vincent
Citation: American Journal of Surgery, 250, 116511
Date: 12/2025
view details
Examines the types of healthcare practitioners who perform endoscopic screening procedures in rural communities in Kansas. Utilizes survey data from 542 practicing physicians and provides information on their demographics, medical specialty, confidence in performing endoscopic procedures, and more.
Author(s): Todd T. Savolt, Jared Reyes, Siman Antar, Kyle Vincent
Citation: American Journal of Surgery, 250, 116511
Date: 12/2025
view details
Co-Creating and Disseminating Substance Use and Vaping Educational Videos, Question Prompt Lists, and Other Resources in Partnership with Community Organizations and Youth in Western North Carolina
Describes the development of and evaluates the social media reach of a youth empowerment program addressing substance use in rural North Carolina. Discusses the inclusion of youth in the development process.
Author(s): Betsy Sleath, Abena A. Adjei, Jeremy Lowery, et al.
Citation: PEC Innovation, 7
Date: 12/2025
view details
Describes the development of and evaluates the social media reach of a youth empowerment program addressing substance use in rural North Carolina. Discusses the inclusion of youth in the development process.
Author(s): Betsy Sleath, Abena A. Adjei, Jeremy Lowery, et al.
Citation: PEC Innovation, 7
Date: 12/2025
view details
Tobacco-Related Knowledge Among Employees at Substance Use Treatment and Medical Healthcare Centers Serving Rural and Medically Underserved Patients with Substance Use Disorders in Texas, USA
Examines tobacco knowledge before and after receipt of a brief tobacco cessation training intervention among healthcare providers at substance use treatment centers and medical healthcare centers in rural and medically underserved areas of Texas. Details gaps in provider training related to the care of co-incident tobacco use and substance misuse disorders.
Author(s): Jedidiah A. Feyisetan, Maggie Britton, Tzuan A. Chen, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(11), 1701
Date: 11/2025
view details
Examines tobacco knowledge before and after receipt of a brief tobacco cessation training intervention among healthcare providers at substance use treatment centers and medical healthcare centers in rural and medically underserved areas of Texas. Details gaps in provider training related to the care of co-incident tobacco use and substance misuse disorders.
Author(s): Jedidiah A. Feyisetan, Maggie Britton, Tzuan A. Chen, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(11), 1701
Date: 11/2025
view details
Rural Missourians' Perspectives on Pain: "I Like To Be in Control of My Life"
Explores Missourians' attitudes toward pain and pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management via interviews of 25 rural Missourians. Discusses how pain treatment is influenced by pain medication stigma, desire for self-sufficiency, and other cultural factors.
Author(s): Karla T. Washington, Klaudia Kukulka, Archana Bharadwaj, et al.
Citation: Health & Place, 96, 103561
Date: 11/2025
view details
Explores Missourians' attitudes toward pain and pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management via interviews of 25 rural Missourians. Discusses how pain treatment is influenced by pain medication stigma, desire for self-sufficiency, and other cultural factors.
Author(s): Karla T. Washington, Klaudia Kukulka, Archana Bharadwaj, et al.
Citation: Health & Place, 96, 103561
Date: 11/2025
view details
Calendar Year 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Final Rule (CMS-1834-FC)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to hospital price transparency; Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; hospital quality start ratings; and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to hospital price transparency; Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; hospital quality start ratings; and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Current and Maximum Acceptable Travel Times to Primary Care Among US Older Adults
Explores the threshold of travel time at which it becomes a barrier to primary care access and for which groups. Uses data from a study conducted in February 2025 of adults age 50 and older. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural or other areas.
Author(s): Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(11), e2545280
Date: 11/2025
view details
Explores the threshold of travel time at which it becomes a barrier to primary care access and for which groups. Uses data from a study conducted in February 2025 of adults age 50 and older. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural or other areas.
Author(s): Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(11), e2545280
Date: 11/2025
view details
Family Physician Workforce Trends: The Toll on Rural Communities
Analyzes distribution of family physicians between 2017 and 2023 to identify trends in practice location. Includes analysis of physician demographic characteristics, rurality, and region. Discusses the impact of a reduction in the family physician workforce on rural communities.
Author(s): Colleen T. Fogarty, Hoon Byun, Alison N. Huffstetler
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 26(6), 535-538
Date: 11/2025
view details
Analyzes distribution of family physicians between 2017 and 2023 to identify trends in practice location. Includes analysis of physician demographic characteristics, rurality, and region. Discusses the impact of a reduction in the family physician workforce on rural communities.
Author(s): Colleen T. Fogarty, Hoon Byun, Alison N. Huffstetler
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 26(6), 535-538
Date: 11/2025
view details
A New Rural Blueprint: Strategic Partnerships That Keep Care Local
Discusses the Wisconsin High Value Network (WHVN), a clinically integrated network (CIN) focused on value-based care arrangements, data sharing, and quality improvement initiatives. Describes WHVN's strategic partnerships, governance, specialty care network, and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Discusses the Wisconsin High Value Network (WHVN), a clinically integrated network (CIN) focused on value-based care arrangements, data sharing, and quality improvement initiatives. Describes WHVN's strategic partnerships, governance, specialty care network, and more.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details