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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Broadband Internet Subscription Rates and Opioid Prescribing via Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Explores the effect of the DEA's temporary permission for providers to prescribe opioids via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky. Discusses the effect this permission had on rural areas and in counties with low and high rates of broadband access.
Author(s): Douglas R. Oyler, Svetla Slavova, Patricia R. Freeman, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 900-907
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rural and Urban Cancer Patients' Experiences, Health Behaviors, and Perceptions
Study examining the impacts of COVID-19 on rural and urban cancer patients based on a survey of 1,472 adult patients of the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Compares rural and urban demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics; experiences with healthcare; health behaviors; and stress factors.
Author(s): Anita R. Peoples, Laura B. Oswald, Jennifer Ose, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 886-899
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Texas HIV Surveillance Report: Annual Report
Provides an annual update of county-level data on HIV infection and AIDS cases for Texas. Includes infection by transmission method, diagnoses by race/ethnicity and age group, data for criminal justice and immigration facilities, and more.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Disability and Telehealth since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Discusses the importance of telehealth for people with disabilities in context of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Describes telehealth's benefits and barriers for individuals as well as institutional advantages and limitations, including discussion of increased need and accessibility issues in rural areas. Describes specific policy and funding modifications during the public health emergency. Provides policy and infrastructure recommendations.
Author(s): Natalie Lawson, Jaque King, Robyn Rontal
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health and Research Transformation at the University of Michigan (CHRT)
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Coroner/Medical Examiner Services in Pennsylvania
Provides information about Pennsylvania coroner/medical examiners (C/MEs), including office caseloads, funding, facilities, forensic capacity, vehicles and equipment, and staffing and training resources. Assesses how the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic affected county C/ME offices in urban and rural areas. Features statistics including deaths from COVID-19 and drug overdose from 2015-2021, with breakdowns by urban and rural counties.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Harry D. Holt, Ramona Stone, Christina VandePol
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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2020 Forces of Change: The COVID-19 Edition
Reports on capacity, preparedness, and response of local health departments (LHDs) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes survey data from 583 LHDs and includes information such as job losses, budget changes, COVID-19 response timeline, workforce changes, experiences related to harassment, available services, recovery efforts, and more. Data includes information from small, medium, and large LHDs.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Rural Road to Recovery in Indiana: Impacts
Provides an overview of how the Indiana economy was impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Discusses the impact of The Rural Road to Recovery Initiative that provided assistance to broadband, arts, housing, and agriculture sectors in rural counties of Indiana.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Indiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor
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Moral Distress Among Clinicians Working in US Safety Net Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study
Explores the causes and levels of moral distress experienced by clinicians treating low-income primary care, dental, and behavioral health patients in safety net practices and participating in education loan repayment programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features statistics on reported degree of moral distress related to work experienced during the pandemic, with breakdowns by discipline and practice type, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Health Service or tribal site, and Rural Health Clinics.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, Jeffrey Sonis, Thomas E Rauner, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 2022
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
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COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions, Concerns, and Facilitators Among US Parents of Children Ages 6 Months Through 4 Years
Examines parental intentions to proceed with COVID-19 vaccinations for their children aged 6 months through 4 years and potential concerns or facilitators related to vaccination choices. Surveys 2,031 U.S. adults in February 2022 to see if they definitely or probably will, are unsure if they will, or probably or definitely will not vaccinate their children. Includes demographic breakdowns by parents' gender, race/ethnicity, education, U.S. region, vaccination status, age of children, and metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Aaron M. Scherer, Courtney A. Gidengil, Amber M. Gedlinske, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(8), e2227437
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
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Telehealth Brings Important Services to Rural Long-Term Care Facilities
Discusses the benefits of telehealth services for residents and staff of rural long-term care facilities. Identifies some of the challenges related to providing these services. Features a New Hampshire skilled nursing facility providing telemental health services, and a Virginia geriatrician helping long-term care facilities address COVID-19 via Project ECHO educational sessions.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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