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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Primary care

County-level Predictors of Growth in Community-based Primary Care Use Among Veterans
Measures county-level growth in Veterans Health Administration (VA) community-based primary care (CBPC) penetration following enactment of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, and assesses whether CBPC penetration increased in rural counties with limited access to VA facilities. Features statistics on county-level CBCP rates and characteristics of counties with high or low growth in penetration rates, with breakdowns by urban, rural, and highly rural locations.
Author(s): Sarah H. Gordon, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Amy K. Rosen, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 59(6), S301-S306
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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Vermont Baseline Needs Assessment: Rural and Non-Rural Practitioners
Report details a needs assessment of Vermont's practitioners' capacity to treat substance use disorder (SUD) and compares rural and urban counties. Breaks down workforce distribution by county, by rural versus urban, and by the type of SUD treatment they are able to provide, as well as their MAT waiver status, among other measures.
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction
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Community Health Centers Telehealth Promising Practices: Case Studies from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Offers a series of eight case studies on how community health centers developed or expanded telehealth programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses challenges faced, best practices, and lessons learned for each program.
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Partnership Forum: The Role of Research in the Transformation of Veterans Affairs Community Care
Discusses how research has shaped the Veterans Affairs' Office of Community Care since its inception in 2015. Highlights the effect research has had on care coordination, quality of care, and network adequacy, among other measures, for all veterans including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Michelle A. Mengeling, Kristin M. Mattocks, Denise M. Hynes, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl3), 232-241
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
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National Health Service Corps: Program Directs Funding to Areas with Greatest Provider Shortages
Provides an overview of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs. Examines data for fiscal year 2020 on the number of NHSC providers and where they served, the number and characteristics of applicants that did not receive funding, the number of NHSC sites with vacancies, and information about the effectiveness of NHSC programs at alleviating provider shortages.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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VA Community Care: Understanding Veterans' Access, Utilization, and Satisfaction
Supplemental journal features a wide variety articles pertaining to veterans' access to care, utilization, and the VA's Community Care Network (CCN). Discusses the CCN's relationship with the MISSION Act, telehealth, and challenges facing rural veterans, among other issues.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl 3)
Date: 06/2021
Type: Journal/Newsletter
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Challenges Faced by Rural Primary Care Providers When Caring for COPD Patients in the Western United States
Results of a survey of 71 rural primary care providers in 7 states, including Colorado and Kansas, to examine challenges faced when caring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by age, degree, rural or non-rural practice location, practice type, and state, and survey answers by provider type and location.
Additional links: Online Supplement
Author(s): Fernando Diaz del Valle, Patricia B. Koff, Sung-Joon Min, et al.
Citation: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, 8(3), 336-349
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
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A Dire Shortage and Getting Worse: Solving the Crisis in the Health Care Workforce
Video of a May 20, 2021 U.S. Senate hearing with testimony from representatives of the Association of American Medical Colleges, the National Medical Association, Albany (Georgia) Area Primary Health Care, and the University of New England. Examines lack of access to high-quality care in rural and underserved areas, and the importance of training students likely to practice in rural areas.
Additional links: David J. Skorton Statement, James D. Herbert Statement, Leon McDougle Statement, Shelley Spires Statement
Author(s): David J. Skorton, Leon McDougle, Shelley Spires, James D. Herbert
Date: 05/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Tri-Area Community Health Provides Community-Focused Integrated Care
Features a rural Virginia Federally Qualified Health Center that provides integrated primary care and behavioral health services. Discusses how services have been adapted to meet the needs of a growing Hispanic population, and describes a behavioral health training program offered in partnership with Radford University.
Author(s): Kathryn Rutz
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Medicaid and Rural Health
Provides an overview of rural residents, including socioeconomic characteristics, insurance status, and health status. Explores the availability of healthcare providers in rural areas, with a focus on primary care providers and hospitals. Discusses the role of Medicaid in rural health, as well as Medicaid policies and services that are important for providing healthcare in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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