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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Treating COVID‐19 in Rural America
Explores the challenges of treating COVID-19 in rural hospitals. Highlights the difficulty of conducting clinical trials to identify an effective treatment for COVID-19 in small rural hospitals.
Author(s): Dima Dandachi, Rebecca Reece, Elizabeth W. Wang, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 205-206
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Susceptibility of Southwestern American Indian Tribes to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Discusses the susceptibility of the Navajo Nation, Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico, and Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma to COVID-19. Examines historical and immunological factors, as well as ongoing and suggested interventions.
Author(s): Monika Kakol, Dona Upson, Akshay Sood
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 197-199
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Preventing Suicide in Rural Communities During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores the potentially increased risk of suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of providing mental healthcare. Highlights some of the factors related to COVID-19 that could increase the risk, such as self isolation, access to firearms, and decreased access to healthcare.
Author(s): Lindsey L. Monteith, Ryan Holliday, Talia L. Brown, Lisa A. Brenner, Nathaniel V. Mohatt
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 179-184
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Ethical and Legal Challenges During the COVID‐19 Pandemic – Are We Thinking About Rural Hospitals?
Discusses the legal framework and ethical decisions hospitals are faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights emergency preparedness planning for rural hospitals with limited workforce and resources.
Author(s): Love Patel, Amy Elliott, Erik Storlie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 175-178
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Caring for Miners During the Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) Pandemic
Highlights the particular vulnerabilities of miners in the Southwestern U.S. to COVID-19. Discusses preexisting conditions, such as COPD, as well as issues related to access to care.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, Charles Pollard, Kyla Le Suer, Kevin Vlahovich, Jolene Walker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 165-168
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Telemedicine: Has the Time Really Finally Arrived?
Explores one provider's observations on the utility of telemedicine in a variety of settings over time in light of COVID-19. Discusses efforts to increase the mobile nature of telehealth services for both the provider and patient. Encourages rural and small town healthcare providers to log all telemedicine encounters.
Author(s): William J. Crump
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 156-157
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Using Telehealth as a Tool for Rural Hospitals in the COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Explores strategies for implementing telehealth services at rural hospitals in response to COVID-19. Discusses how telehealth can be utilized to expand rural hospital capacity, meet the needs of low acuity or recently discharged patients, and limit transfers to tertiary locations.
Author(s): Jeydith Gutierrez, Ethan Kuperman, Peter J. Kaboli
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 161-164
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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COVID-19 During the Opioid Epidemic – Exacerbation of Stigma and Vulnerabilities
Explores how the lack of healthcare infrastructure in rural areas and the COVID-19 pandemic create particular challenges for people who use drugs (PWUDs). Discusses the stigma of seeking care during a pandemic and the difficulty of accessing living resources, among other issues affecting PWUDs in rural areas.
Author(s): Wiley D. Jenkins, Rebecca Bolinski, John Bresett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 172-174
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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A Primary Care Response to COVID‐19 for Patients with an Opioid Use Disorder
Discusses the challenges of treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights decisions made by primary care physicians regarding harm reduction related to COVID-19 that may have detrimental effects for OUD patient.
Author(s): Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Melinda Ramage, E. Blake Fagan
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 169-171
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Telehealth Policies Impacting Federally Qualified Health Centers in Face of COVID‐19
Provides an overview of changes to federal, California Medicaid, and private insurer telehealth policies in response to COVID-19. Discusses opportunities and limitations Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics may face in expanding telehealth services. Offers recommendations for removing barriers for providers in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Miku Sodhi
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 158-160
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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