Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
American Clusters: Using Machine Learning to Understand Health and Health Care Disparities in the United States
Demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of using machine learning (ML) to identify social determinants of health, healthcare access, healthcare infrastructure, and geography factors contributing to health inequalities. Discusses use of ML in policy, with different levels of geography, and in future research.
Author(s): Diane M. Bowser, Kaili Maurico, Brielle A. Ruscitti, William H. Crown
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(3)
Date: 03/2024
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Demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of using machine learning (ML) to identify social determinants of health, healthcare access, healthcare infrastructure, and geography factors contributing to health inequalities. Discusses use of ML in policy, with different levels of geography, and in future research.
Author(s): Diane M. Bowser, Kaili Maurico, Brielle A. Ruscitti, William H. Crown
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(3)
Date: 03/2024
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2024 County Health Rankings National Findings Report
Analyzes county-level health and wellness data, focusing on issues such as public investment and health equity. Includes information on access to broadband, information, civic infrastructure and services, and more. Provides U.S. map of county-level life expectancy (LE) and discusses the relationship of LE to civic health.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Analyzes county-level health and wellness data, focusing on issues such as public investment and health equity. Includes information on access to broadband, information, civic infrastructure and services, and more. Provides U.S. map of county-level life expectancy (LE) and discusses the relationship of LE to civic health.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Ohio Health Policy Brief: Connections Between Water Quality and Health
Examines water quality in Ohio, the health impacts of polluted water, and water policy to address potential harm. Provides data on harmful algal bloom, percent of households without complete plumbing facilities by county type, per capita H2Ohio funding for lead service line replacements by county type, and counties with drinking water violations. Includes discussion about environmental health disparities in disadvantaged populations, such as Appalachian and rural.
Author(s): Lexi Chirakos, Robin Blair-Ackison, Tonni Oberly, Jacob Santiago, Anna Sheeran
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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Examines water quality in Ohio, the health impacts of polluted water, and water policy to address potential harm. Provides data on harmful algal bloom, percent of households without complete plumbing facilities by county type, per capita H2Ohio funding for lead service line replacements by county type, and counties with drinking water violations. Includes discussion about environmental health disparities in disadvantaged populations, such as Appalachian and rural.
Author(s): Lexi Chirakos, Robin Blair-Ackison, Tonni Oberly, Jacob Santiago, Anna Sheeran
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
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The Future of the Universal Service Fund and Related Broadband Programs
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program. Describes legislation introduced in the 118th Congress that would impact the USF programs. Outlines considerations for Congress and five areas for possible reform.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Rural Health Care Program, and Schools and Libraries Program. Describes legislation introduced in the 118th Congress that would impact the USF programs. Outlines considerations for Congress and five areas for possible reform.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Access in Appalachia Pilot Implementation Project
Explores transportation accessibility within Appalachia by measuring, analyzing, and visualizing Appalachian residents' access to jobs, education, healthcare, entertainment, and intermodal freight facilities. Mentions rural throughout, and includes a section on healthcare deserts. Features maps with shadings indicating economic status and urbanicity level of Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Saumya Jain, Eric Lind, Andrew Owen, Shirley Shiqin Liu
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Explores transportation accessibility within Appalachia by measuring, analyzing, and visualizing Appalachian residents' access to jobs, education, healthcare, entertainment, and intermodal freight facilities. Mentions rural throughout, and includes a section on healthcare deserts. Features maps with shadings indicating economic status and urbanicity level of Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Saumya Jain, Eric Lind, Andrew Owen, Shirley Shiqin Liu
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Understanding Water Affordability Across Contexts: LIHWAP Water Utility Affordability Survey Report
Assesses water affordability for both families and utilities across the U.S, discussing low income households and funding. Includes rural, urban, and tribal comparisons and the unique challenges for each community type.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: ACF Office of Community Services
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Assesses water affordability for both families and utilities across the U.S, discussing low income households and funding. Includes rural, urban, and tribal comparisons and the unique challenges for each community type.
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: ACF Office of Community Services
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Small Business Administration: Targeted Outreach about Disaster Assistance Could Benefit Rural Communities
Examines disaster loan trends in rural and urban areas using geocoded Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application data for fiscal years 2017 through 2022. Describes challenges rural communities may face in seeking disaster assistance from SBA and actions SBA could take to address these challenges.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines disaster loan trends in rural and urban areas using geocoded Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan application data for fiscal years 2017 through 2022. Describes challenges rural communities may face in seeking disaster assistance from SBA and actions SBA could take to address these challenges.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Bridging The Home-Based Primary Care Gap In Rural Areas
Discusses challenges with offering home-based primary care (HBPC) in rural communities for older adults and people with disabilities, notably workforce shortages, insufficient infrastructure, and funding. Offers HBPC redesign suggestions with these challenges in mind, discussing community health workers, technology and telehealth, leveraging community resources and partnerships, training, scope of practice laws, payment models, and infrastructure investments.
Author(s): Ginny Rogers, Montgomery Smith, Jonathan Gonzalez-Smith, Robert S. Saunders
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 02/2024
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Discusses challenges with offering home-based primary care (HBPC) in rural communities for older adults and people with disabilities, notably workforce shortages, insufficient infrastructure, and funding. Offers HBPC redesign suggestions with these challenges in mind, discussing community health workers, technology and telehealth, leveraging community resources and partnerships, training, scope of practice laws, payment models, and infrastructure investments.
Author(s): Ginny Rogers, Montgomery Smith, Jonathan Gonzalez-Smith, Robert S. Saunders
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 02/2024
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Proven Safety Countermeasures in Rural Communities
Provides safety countermeasures that can be implemented on rural roadways and includes statistics on their effectiveness. Focuses on speed management, roadway departure, intersection, pedestrian/bicycle, and crosscutting safety countermeasures.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Federal Highway Administration
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Provides safety countermeasures that can be implemented on rural roadways and includes statistics on their effectiveness. Focuses on speed management, roadway departure, intersection, pedestrian/bicycle, and crosscutting safety countermeasures.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Federal Highway Administration
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Rural Economic Development Toolkit
A toolkit designed to assist rural stakeholders with improving their outdoor recreation economies. Focuses on population health, quality of life, resilient businesses and economies, and vibrant outdoor spaces. Includes information on economic development and best practices, networking and collaboration, funding, infrastructure needs, and addressing challenges.
Additional links: Webinar
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
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A toolkit designed to assist rural stakeholders with improving their outdoor recreation economies. Focuses on population health, quality of life, resilient businesses and economies, and vibrant outdoor spaces. Includes information on economic development and best practices, networking and collaboration, funding, infrastructure needs, and addressing challenges.
Additional links: Webinar
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
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