Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health
'No Safe Level of Lead': How Mining Towns Are Reducing the Risk of Lead Exposure – And What Other Rural Communities Can Learn from Them
Highlights efforts in rural Idaho and Kansas to raise awareness of the dangers of lead exposure. Discusses health screenings and follow-up care, as well as outreach activities and educational materials.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Highlights efforts in rural Idaho and Kansas to raise awareness of the dangers of lead exposure. Discusses health screenings and follow-up care, as well as outreach activities and educational materials.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Health Care Access from the Rural Perspective: A Narrative Review
Examines rural healthcare access in the dimensions of geographic, temporal, financial, cultural, and virtual. Discusses rural versus urban access challenges and access disparities related to geographic distance and available transportation, broadband internet access and digital literacy, healthcare workforce shortages, and the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Peter Kaboli, Adam Blaine, Jasmine Mares, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70119
Date: 02/2026
view details
Examines rural healthcare access in the dimensions of geographic, temporal, financial, cultural, and virtual. Discusses rural versus urban access challenges and access disparities related to geographic distance and available transportation, broadband internet access and digital literacy, healthcare workforce shortages, and the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Peter Kaboli, Adam Blaine, Jasmine Mares, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70119
Date: 02/2026
view details
Improving the Value Proposition of Critical Access Hospitals – Lessons from Federal and State Initiatives
Report details how federal and state initiatives can support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) transition to value-based payment models. Provides examples of initiatives that offer models for use by State Flex Programs (SFPs) for supporting CAHs' transformation to value-based care.
Author(s): John Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Bridget Harr
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Report details how federal and state initiatives can support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) transition to value-based payment models. Provides examples of initiatives that offer models for use by State Flex Programs (SFPs) for supporting CAHs' transformation to value-based care.
Author(s): John Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Bridget Harr
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Training in Place: How a Unique Scholarship Program Is Catalyzing Innovation in Rural Health
Examines the Rural Health Innovation Scholarship Program, which provides support to midcareer clinicians and public health professionals to address population health issues in rural communities. Discusses the work of the scholarship recipients, focusing on community engagement, healthcare financing, partnerships and collaboration, rural health policy, and more.
Author(s): Sarah Klein
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Examines the Rural Health Innovation Scholarship Program, which provides support to midcareer clinicians and public health professionals to address population health issues in rural communities. Discusses the work of the scholarship recipients, focusing on community engagement, healthcare financing, partnerships and collaboration, rural health policy, and more.
Author(s): Sarah Klein
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Meeting the Health Needs of Rural America: A Report of the Aspen Health Strategy Group
Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
view details
Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
view details
Perceived Water Safety and Elevated Liver Enzymes in Rural West Virginia: Links between Drinking Water, Beverage Habits, and Liver Health
Analyzes associations between perceived home tap water quality, liver enzyme levels, and other clinical indicators among 272 adults in rural West Virginia. Discusses how perceived environmental health and access to affordable filtration may influence health outcomes in rural, Appalachian areas.
Author(s): Joanna Bailey, Terezia Lilly, Adam D. Baus
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1)
Date: 02/2026
view details
Analyzes associations between perceived home tap water quality, liver enzyme levels, and other clinical indicators among 272 adults in rural West Virginia. Discusses how perceived environmental health and access to affordable filtration may influence health outcomes in rural, Appalachian areas.
Author(s): Joanna Bailey, Terezia Lilly, Adam D. Baus
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1)
Date: 02/2026
view details
Rural Sleep Health and Sleep Health Disparities among Children and Adults in the United States
Examines sleep health characteristics among rural populations in the United States. Utilizes 2020 and 2022 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze the sleep health of 1,429 children and 8,673 adults residing in nonmetro counties, focusing on demographic variables, socioeconomic variables, and sleep health.
Author(s): Symielle A. Gaston, Christopher W. Payne, William Braxton Jackson, II, Chandra L. Jackson
Citation: Sleep Health, 12(1), 39-51
Date: 02/2026
view details
Examines sleep health characteristics among rural populations in the United States. Utilizes 2020 and 2022 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze the sleep health of 1,429 children and 8,673 adults residing in nonmetro counties, focusing on demographic variables, socioeconomic variables, and sleep health.
Author(s): Symielle A. Gaston, Christopher W. Payne, William Braxton Jackson, II, Chandra L. Jackson
Citation: Sleep Health, 12(1), 39-51
Date: 02/2026
view details
From Clinics to Communities: Mobile Health in State Rural Health Transformation Plans
Highlights mobile health models included in state Rural Health Transformation Plan applications. Includes information on the effectiveness of mobile health models in rural healthcare delivery.
Author(s): Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy
view details
Highlights mobile health models included in state Rural Health Transformation Plan applications. Includes information on the effectiveness of mobile health models in rural healthcare delivery.
Author(s): Julia Burleson, Leila Sullivan
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy
view details
Rural–Urban Disparities in Diabetes Quality of Care with Accountable Care Organization Participation
Examines the relationship among diabetes quality of care, accountable care organization (ACO) participation, and rural versus urban health disparities. Utilizes 2011-2018 Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality all-patient all-payer data to analyze diabetes care management across ACO versus non-ACO participation and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Mariétou H. Ouayogodé, Xiyuan Hu
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70121
Date: 02/2026
view details
Examines the relationship among diabetes quality of care, accountable care organization (ACO) participation, and rural versus urban health disparities. Utilizes 2011-2018 Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality all-patient all-payer data to analyze diabetes care management across ACO versus non-ACO participation and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Mariétou H. Ouayogodé, Xiyuan Hu
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70121
Date: 02/2026
view details
The Interaction of Tobacco Retailer Density and Rurality with Tobacco Use Prevalence in Kentucky
Explores the relationship between the prevalence tobacco retailers and rates of tobacco use in rural counties in Kentucky. Highlights rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use by county retailer density.
Author(s): Shyanika W. Rose, W. Jay Christian, Judy van de Venne, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70106
Date: 01/2026
view details
Explores the relationship between the prevalence tobacco retailers and rates of tobacco use in rural counties in Kentucky. Highlights rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use by county retailer density.
Author(s): Shyanika W. Rose, W. Jay Christian, Judy van de Venne, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70106
Date: 01/2026
view details