Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Sex Differences in Rural Prehospital ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care
Compares prehospital treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by sex in rural populations using 2016-2020 STEMI registry data from a rural cohort in North Carolina. Includes data breakdowns by clinical characteristics.
Author(s): Michael W. Supples, Randy S. Carpenter, Nicklaus P. Ashburn, et al.
Citation: Emergency Medicine Journal, 43(8), 486-492
Date: 06/2026
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Compares prehospital treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by sex in rural populations using 2016-2020 STEMI registry data from a rural cohort in North Carolina. Includes data breakdowns by clinical characteristics.
Author(s): Michael W. Supples, Randy S. Carpenter, Nicklaus P. Ashburn, et al.
Citation: Emergency Medicine Journal, 43(8), 486-492
Date: 06/2026
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Severe Mental Health Conditions, Fentanyl Injection, and Severe Substance Use Disorders Are Associated with Violent Victimization among Rural Appalachian Adults Who Inject Drugs
Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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How Wearables and Other Digital Tools Are Driving Innovation in Behavioral Health
Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Rural Health and Health Disparities in Hypertension Management: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Discusses factors influencing the high rural prevalence of hypertension and highlights approaches for improving rural hypertension management. Covers topics including nonmedical drivers of health, access to services, medication access and use, nutrition and food insecurity, telehealth, and culturally-tailored service delivery.
Author(s): Cassandra D. Ford, Natalie A. Cameron, Donald Clark, et al.
Citation: Hypertension
Date: 06/2026
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Discusses factors influencing the high rural prevalence of hypertension and highlights approaches for improving rural hypertension management. Covers topics including nonmedical drivers of health, access to services, medication access and use, nutrition and food insecurity, telehealth, and culturally-tailored service delivery.
Author(s): Cassandra D. Ford, Natalie A. Cameron, Donald Clark, et al.
Citation: Hypertension
Date: 06/2026
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Understanding Smokeless Tobacco Use in Rural United States: A Narrative Synthesis of Contributing Factors and Prevention Efforts
Narrative review examining research on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in rural areas. Covers prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies, giving particular attention to youth SLT use.
Author(s): Mariyam Abbas, Steven A. Cohen
Citation: Public Health in Practice, 11, 100801
Date: 06/2026
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Narrative review examining research on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in rural areas. Covers prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies, giving particular attention to youth SLT use.
Author(s): Mariyam Abbas, Steven A. Cohen
Citation: Public Health in Practice, 11, 100801
Date: 06/2026
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Is Access to Primary Care Clinicians Improving in North Carolina? A 2025 Update
Blog post providing updated information on the ratio of North Carolina population to primary care clinicians. Provides county-level maps with shadings showing better or worse access to primary care as of 2025 and percentage change in access from 2017-2025.
Author(s): Evan Galloway
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Sheps Health Workforce NC, The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Blog post providing updated information on the ratio of North Carolina population to primary care clinicians. Provides county-level maps with shadings showing better or worse access to primary care as of 2025 and percentage change in access from 2017-2025.
Author(s): Evan Galloway
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Sheps Health Workforce NC, The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Rural–Urban Variation in Guideline-Concordant Management of Early-Stage Kidney, Prostate, and Testicular Cancer in the United States (2010–2022)
Examines how receipt of guideline-concordant management of early-stage kidney, prostate, and testicular cancers varied among rural and urban populations, using 2010-2022 SEER data.
Author(s): Canan D. Dirican, Samer Jumean, Anas Al Mardini, Michael Maroules
Citation: Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, 44(6), 189-196
Date: 06/2026
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Examines how receipt of guideline-concordant management of early-stage kidney, prostate, and testicular cancers varied among rural and urban populations, using 2010-2022 SEER data.
Author(s): Canan D. Dirican, Samer Jumean, Anas Al Mardini, Michael Maroules
Citation: Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, 44(6), 189-196
Date: 06/2026
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Transforming Rural Health: RHTP and Value-Based Payment
Webinar recording featuring Dr. Keith Mueller from Rural Health Value discussing Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) activities that link to value-based payment arrangements in rural communities.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Webinar recording featuring Dr. Keith Mueller from Rural Health Value discussing Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) activities that link to value-based payment arrangements in rural communities.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Syphilis Outbreak Field Outreach, Overdose Prevention, and Tribal Collaboration: Lessons Learned from Oklahoma State Department of Health
Details how the Oklahoma State Department of Health addressed a syphilis outbreak concurrently with overdose prevention efforts across rural, urban, and tribal areas via partnerships with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board and other tribal and community organizations.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Details how the Oklahoma State Department of Health addressed a syphilis outbreak concurrently with overdose prevention efforts across rural, urban, and tribal areas via partnerships with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board and other tribal and community organizations.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Beyond Maternal Mortality: How Severe Morbidity Reveals Policy Gaps in Maternal Care
Provides information about severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in the United States across sociodemographic groups and discusses possible policy interventions, including rural-specific strategies. Examines data on SMM with data broken down by year, state, medical condition, patient demographics, cost of delivery, insurance type, rurality, and hospital type of metro non-teaching, metro teaching, or rural.
Author(s): Eugene Declercq, Laurie C. Zephyrin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Provides information about severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in the United States across sociodemographic groups and discusses possible policy interventions, including rural-specific strategies. Examines data on SMM with data broken down by year, state, medical condition, patient demographics, cost of delivery, insurance type, rurality, and hospital type of metro non-teaching, metro teaching, or rural.
Author(s): Eugene Declercq, Laurie C. Zephyrin
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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