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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health: The Role of Health Professions Education: Thirteenth Annual Report to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Congress of the United States
Includes recommendations for redesign of health professional training to meet needs of an aging and diverse population, to become more team-based and interprofessional, and to prepare students to serve in rural and underserved communities.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
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Mapping Rural Colorado: A Statistical Comparison of Colorado's Rural Regions
Outlines four distinct rural regions of Colorado: Northwest, Southwest/San Luis Valley, Eastern Plains, and Central. Provides a quick health fact for each region and includes median income levels, adult poverty rates, obesity rates, and more.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Health Foundation
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Supporting the Development of Young Children in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Who Are Affected by Alcohol and Substance Exposure
Policy statement providing recommendations that promote the early development of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children who have been exposed to alcohol and substance abuse during pregnancy or early childhood. Discusses best practices and reviews promising strategies that tribal early childhood programs can use to support children's development and wellness. Also points out health disparities that exist between tribes and the general U.S. population, and uses case studies to show where success has been achieved in reducing the destructive effects of substance abuse.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Report to Congress: Social Risk Factors and Performance Under Medicare's Value-Based Purchasing Program
Uses Medicare data to examine the relationship between social risk factors and the performance of value-based purchasing programs. Discusses policy considerations that could help ensure value-based purchasing programs achieve their intended results, especially among high social risk populations. Categorizes rurality as a community risk factor and discusses whether beneficiaries with social risk factors such as rurality have worse outcomes due to their social risk profile, or because of the providers they see. Also provides rural-specific statistics and recommendations for using value-based purchasing to improve health outcomes among high social risk populations. Appendices summarize and provide additional details for each of the 9 programs evaluated. See the second report.
Additional links: Appendices
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Resurgence of Progressive Massive Fibrosis in Coal Miners--Eastern Kentucky, 2016
Describes a sharp increase in cases of Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF) from January 2015 through August 2016, as reported by a radiologist treating 60 former or active coal miners in rural central Appalachia. Includes a chart showing percentages of miners with 25 or more years underground work experience in that region who were diagnosed with PMF from 1970-2016.
Author(s): David J. Blackley, James B. Crum, Cara N. Halldin, Eileen Storey, A. Scott Laney
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 65(49), 1385-1389
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Strengthening the Connection Between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Farmer's Markets
Study showing the geographic distribution of farmer's markets with Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) programs in Washington, in relation to areas with high Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program populations. Includes breakdowns by rural and urban locations.
Author(s): Bridget Igoe, Dennis McDermot, Mandy Stahre
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 13
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
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Chuuk Women's Council Empowers Micronesian Women to be Healthcare Leaders
Highlights the Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Women's Council, which was established in 1984 to educate Micronesian women to become leaders in their communities, businesses, and in healthcare.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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National Rural Health Day 2016 Community Stars
Collection of stories about individuals and organizations across the U.S. that have made positive differences in the health of the rural communities they serve through innovation, leadership, commitment, collaboration, education, and communication.
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Outcomes of a Clinic-Based Educational Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention by Race, Ethnicity, and Urban/Rural Status
Examines knowledge and awareness about cardiovascular disease issues and the impact of a clinic-based education intervention using pre- and post-surveys of women in Northern California. Addresses differences by race/ethnicity and rural/urban status. Discusses the implications of the research findings for education outreach efforts.
Author(s): Amparo C. Villablanca, Christina Slee, Liana Lianov, Daniel Tancredi
Citation: Journal of Women's Health, 25(11), 1174-1186
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
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Understanding Multiple Behavioral Risk Factors for Cancer in Rural Women
Analyzes data from the Rural Families Speak about Health study to report on demographic and health-related factors associated with risk behaviors linked to cancer, such as smoking, high body mass index (BMI), and low physical activity for rural women. Includes characteristic statistics by age, race/ethnicity, marital status, income, health status, and number of risk factors.
Author(s): Devon Noonan, Latefa Dardas, Tiffany Bice-Wigington, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nursing, 33(6), 519-528
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
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