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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Geographic Expansion of Federally Qualified Health Centers 2007-2014
Details a study on the geographic distribution of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from 2007-2014. Looks at the percentage of FQHCs in rural and high poverty areas.
Author(s): Chiang-Hua Chang, Julie PW Bynum, Jon D. Lurie
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 35(3), 385-394
Date: 06/2019
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A Conversation on Maternal Health Care in Rural Communities: Charting a Path to Improved Access, Quality and Outcomes
Provides a recording of a day-long forum on maternal health access in rural communities. Addresses statistics on maternal health access, disparities in access and mortality rates, healthcare quality, models of care, state and federal policies related to maternal health, and more.
Additional links: Agenda, External Summary
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Running Clear: Preventing Private Water Sources from Becoming a Health Hazard in Rural America
Provides an overview of the potential contaminants in well water and describes how the safety of private water sources is maintained. Features water experts and a public health professional explaining what can be done to keep well water clean, including water testing, education and training, funding, and technical assistance.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Kentucky Community Fights Back against Cardiovascular Disease
Results of a study conducted in Appalachian Kentucky, exploring a program in which community health workers helped promote healthy eating, physical activity, stress reduction, and other activities to manage risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
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Breathless and Betrayed: What is MSHA Doing to Protect Miners from the Resurgence of Black Lung Disease?
Provides a U.S. House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections hearing on the increase in lung disease among coal miners, particularly in the Appalachian states of Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia, and what the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) should do about it. Addresses the history of black lung in the U.S., black lung statistics, the impact of quartz exposure and ways to reduce it, and the finances of the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Includes testimony from the Government Accountability Office, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, United Mine Workers of America, University of Illinois School of Public Health, and others.
Additional links: Cecil Roberts, John Howard Testimony, Robert Cohen Testimony
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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The Challenges of Chronic Disease in Rural Areas: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Video focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rural America. Experts discuss the high prevalence rate in rural areas, possible causes, COPD treatment options, and how we can better understand and address this disease.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Assessment of Mortality and Smoking Rates Before and After Reduction in Community-wide Prevention Programs in Rural Maine
Results of a study comparing smoking and mortality rates in Franklin County, Maine with other Maine counties, by 5-year intervals between 1970-2015. Features statistics including demographics, mortality rates, and income data.
Author(s): Daniel K. Onion, Roderick E. Prior, N. Burgess Record, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open 2(6), e195877
Date: 06/2019
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Member Spotlight Interview: Health Director Emily Brown Discusses the Importance of Rural Health Representation
Interview with the health director for Rio Grande County Public Health, serving 6 rural counties in Colorado. Highlights the importance of rural health representation at all levels of government and explores how the Rio Grande County health department addresses health issues related to poverty.
Citation: NACCHO Voice
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Trends in Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines Among Urban and Rural Dwelling Adults — United States, 2008–2017
Reports on how many adults aged 18 years and older are meeting physical activity guidelines in urban and rural areas. Includes rural/urban data by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, education level, and Census region.
Author(s): Geoffrey P. Whitfield, Susan A. Carlson, Emily N. Ussery, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(23), 513-518
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Life and Breath: How Air Pollution Affects Health in Minnesota
Provides a report and data on the health impacts of pollution in Minnesota. Discusses sources of air pollution; health impacts attributable to pollution; and differences in impacts by rural/urban location, poverty rate, health insurance coverage, and race/ethnicity. Includes maps with county-level data on air pollution health-related events.
Author(s): David Bael, Kathy Raleigh
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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