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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Public health

Firearm Safety in Rural America
Policy brief describing the prevalence of firearm-related injuries and death in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to mitigate the risk of rural firearm injury and death.
Author(s): Eneka Lamb, Ada Pariser, Andy Fosmire
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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After Action Review/Improvement Plan: Strategic Planning Toolkit
Toolkit provides guidance for completing an after action review of a post-public health intervention. Toolkit is aimed at leaders, public health practitioners, and other healthcare stakeholders in tribal communities. Provides the tools for designing, planning, preparing, and conducting an after action review.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, American Indian Research Center for Health
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People who Inject Drugs Accessing Harm Reduction Services in a Rural American State
Results of a study exploring how changes made in Maine during the pandemic affected access to harm reduction services, including basic services such as shelter, syringe service programs, safe drug supply, low barrier buprenorphine treatment, and peer support. Based on interviews with 36 stakeholders comprising people who inject drugs, community partners, and healthcare providers.
Author(s): Kinna Thakarar, Michael Kohut, Rebecca Hutchinson, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19(80)
Date: 07/2022
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Fighting Fentanyl: The Federal Response to a Growing Crisis
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on the government's response to the fentanyl crisis. Includes testimonies from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy regarding current efforts to address the expanding use of fentanyl across the U.S.
Additional links: Carole Johnson Testimony, Christopher Jones Testimony, Kemp Chester Testimony, Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon Testimony
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Increasing Access to Routine Child Immunizations: State Approaches for Increasing Pharmacy Enrollment in the VFC Program
Discusses how increasing pharmacy participation in the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) can promote access to childhood vaccinations and reduce disparities. Outlines steps states can take to identify and address barriers to enrollment, including examining reimbursement policies, aligning program requirements with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements, addressing common provider misconceptions about the VFC program, and addressing pediatrician concerns.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Katie Greene, Michelle Fiscus
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Northern Navajo Medical Center Delivers Care Directly to Patients Experiencing Homelessness
Video details a program initiated by the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico, that provides treatment to people experiencing homelessness on the Navajo reservation. Discusses the mobile clinic's goals and the services it provides, such as physical exams, vaccinations, and other acute and chronic conditions.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Responding to a Surge in Overdose Deaths: Perspectives From US Syringe Services Programs
Highlights a study on the perspectives of syringe service program (SSP) leadership and staff regarding overdose deaths in the US. Bases conclusions on interviews done from February to March of 2021 and breaks down participant data by geographic region, distribution approach, and rurality, among others factors.
Author(s): Madeline C. Frost, Elizabeth J. Austin, Maria A. Corcorran, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19, 79
Date: 07/2022
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Supporting Communities and Local Public Health Departments During COVID-19 and Beyond: A Roadmap for Equitable and Transformative Change
Examines strategies to strengthen public health systems in California to create more equitable and resilient communities. Utilizes interview and survey data from community and public health stakeholders as well as reviews of policy and best practices. Includes discussions about collaborating along local, regional, and state levels to improve healthcare in rural and underserved areas.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Public Health Alliance of Southern California, Public Health Institute
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Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Beliefs and Practice Characteristics in Rural and Urban Adolescent Care Providers
Study examining human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine resources, practices, and attitudes in rural and urban populations based on data from 437 survey respondents in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Discusses rural disparities in HPV vaccine coverage and noted differences in evening and weekend appointment availability, experience with adolescent vaccine quality improvement projects, and adolescent vaccination orders.
Author(s): Cody L. Goessl, Ben Christianson, Kayla E. Hanson, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 1322
Date: 07/2022
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Healthy Iowans: Iowa's State Health Assessment
Provides an overview of population health in Iowa with a focus on health outcomes and related social, economic, and environmental factors. Outlines Iowa's overall health profile and priority areas in public health. Includes county-level data on life expectancy, primary care and dentist workforce supply, and transportation; census tract data comparing rural and urban food access; and discussions geared toward rural-specific health issues.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
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