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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Indicators of Healthy Aging: A Guide to Explore Healthy Aging Data through Community Health Improvement
Provides an overview for local health departments (LHDs) and partners to assess the components of healthy aging in their communities through research, data, and practice. Focuses on tracking health indicators and the social determinants of health (SDOH) and how to use data while considering community-level factors that impact healthcare access, such as race/ethnicity, location/rurality, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) status, and more.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Trust for America's Health
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Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Versus Urban Veterans Health Administration Facilities
Explores rural veterans' access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) via the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Highlights VHA efforts to expand access to MOUD within VHA facilities and aims to identify access levels for rural veterans via the VA's Community Care program. Breaks down data by type of MOUD and by rural or urban location.
Author(s): Jessica J. Wyse, Sarah Shull, Stephan Lindner, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38(8), 1871-1876
Date: 06/2023
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Equity, Multisector Collaboration and Innovation for Rural Health: Lessons from the National Rural Health Association Conference
Provides overview of topics discussed at the National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Equity Conference and Annual Rural Health Conference in May 2023 in San Diego, California. Topics include health equity, defining "rural," available data tools, community health workers, and more.
Author(s): Sagar B. Dugani, Randolph D. Hubach
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 23(2)
Date: 06/2023
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Well-Being in Rural California 2023
Examines well-being in rural California according to indicators related to healthy life and longevity, access to knowledge and education, and income and standard of living. Utilizes the American human development index (HDI) and breaks data down by race, ethnicity, sex, neighborhood cluster, and Census tract.
Additional links: Data Download, Slides, Webinar
Author(s): Kristen Lewis
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Measure of America, NeighborWorks America
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'A Safe Place': Rural HIV Patients and Providers Fight Stigma, Isolation Through Connection
Reports on a variety of programs underway in rural areas for HIV prevention and treatment. Discusses the challenges and barriers, as well as strategies to address HIV in rural communities.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural Health on Life Support
Podcast episode discussing the effects of policy on rural maternal health outcomes and access to maternity care services. Covers racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity and mortality and the role of state policies, including Medicaid policies, on maternal and infant health.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Rural Health on Life Support - The State of America's Rural Health Systems
Podcast episode discussing the rural health landscape and how policies affect rural healthcare systems and service delivery. Covers rural hospital closures, payment policy, workforce concerns, emergency medical services (EMS), the Rural Emergency Hospital designation, and more.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Monthly Excess Mortality Across Counties in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 2020 to February 2022
Analyzes all-cause excess mortality between March 2020 and February 2022 by county and month to show trends in mortality by date and location. Highlights patterns seen over time between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the trends.
Author(s): Eugenio Paglino, Dielle J. Lundberg, Zhenwei Zhou, et al.
Citation: Science Advances 9(25)
Date: 06/2023
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Development and Evaluation of the Delivery-Based HEALED Produce Rx Program for Uninsured Patients With Diabetes in Rural Eastern North Carolina
A program evaluation brief that provides an overview of the Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle to Enhance Diabetes management (HEALED) program that surveyed patients in 2019 and then delivered plant-based foods to 40 participants as a part of a produce prescription (PRx) program in 2021. Reports on how PRx programs and related resources such as cooking instructions can positively impact diabetes patients. Discusses the importance of performing a needs assessment, pilot programming, and a formative evaluation in rural and underserved programs to remove food access barriers such as lack of transportation and involve participants in their own wellness journeys.
Author(s): Lauren R. Sastre, Brandon Stroud, Elisa Smith, Khadijah Hendrix, Olivia McBride
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 06/2023
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Advancing Health and Resilience in the Gulf of Mexico Region: Roadmap for Progress
Describes the current state of health and community resilience in the Gulf of Mexico region and identifies roadblocks to progress. Offers policy recommendations focused on addressing critical gaps in data and funding community resilience. Presents a road map for improving health and community resilience in the Gulf region. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on Progress Toward Human Health and Community Resilience in the Gulf of Mexico Region
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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