Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Beyond Geography: Using a Cluster-Based Analysis to Conceptualize the Rurality of Veterans Health Administration Hospitals
Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Long-Term Poverty, Rurality, and Geographic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer: A Spatial Analysis in Texas
Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Rural Residence and Postsurgical Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Explores the post-surgical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing four common inpatient general surgery operations: appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, or incisional hernia repair. Compares quality outcomes including mortality, complications, 30-day readmissions, and discharge disposition for rural and nonrural Medicare beneficiaries using Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data from 2016 to 2023.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Adrian Diaz, Brooke C. Bredbeck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2626959
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the post-surgical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing four common inpatient general surgery operations: appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, or incisional hernia repair. Compares quality outcomes including mortality, complications, 30-day readmissions, and discharge disposition for rural and nonrural Medicare beneficiaries using Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data from 2016 to 2023.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Adrian Diaz, Brooke C. Bredbeck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2626959
Date: 08/2026
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Rural Background, Training Exposure, and Rural Practice Location Among US Physicians
Research letter exploring the interdependence between recruiting students from rural backgrounds and providing exposure to rural settings during undergraduate and graduate medical education training. Uses data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians.
Author(s): Xiaochu Hu, Davis G. Patterson, Sarah S. Conrad, Qian Luo, Michael J. Dill
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2625481
Date: 08/2026
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Research letter exploring the interdependence between recruiting students from rural backgrounds and providing exposure to rural settings during undergraduate and graduate medical education training. Uses data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians.
Author(s): Xiaochu Hu, Davis G. Patterson, Sarah S. Conrad, Qian Luo, Michael J. Dill
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2625481
Date: 08/2026
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Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2024
Highlights from the 2024 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), which provides single-year median household income and poverty statistics. Includes county-level maps showing income and poverty rates in 2024 and changes from 2023 to 2024 for the total population and children.
Additional links: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2024 Report
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Highlights from the 2024 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), which provides single-year median household income and poverty statistics. Includes county-level maps showing income and poverty rates in 2024 and changes from 2023 to 2024 for the total population and children.
Additional links: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2024 Report
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Unequal Paths to Care: How Region, Rurality, and Deprivation Determine Transport to Verified Trauma Centers among the Critically Injured
Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Young Adult Urbanicity, Late Midlife Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Cognitive Functioning in Community-Dwelling Older Men
Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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North Dakota Statewide Traffic Safety Survey, 2026: Traffic Safety Performance Measures for State and Federal Agencies
Provides information on traffic safety issues among varied demographic groups in North Dakota and their beliefs, practices, and distractions related to driving. Includes rural versus urban comparisons about driving safety, driving under the influence, and more.
Author(s): Kimberly Vachal, Andrew Kubas, Jaclyn Andersen
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Provides information on traffic safety issues among varied demographic groups in North Dakota and their beliefs, practices, and distractions related to driving. Includes rural versus urban comparisons about driving safety, driving under the influence, and more.
Author(s): Kimberly Vachal, Andrew Kubas, Jaclyn Andersen
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Impact of Rurality on Inpatient Outcomes in Neurofibromatosis: A National Inpatient Sample Study
Analyzes how rural versus urban dwelling and hospital setting influence interhospital transfer, mortality, length of stay, and other aspects related to access to and quality of neurosurgical care. Uses 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data for patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2.
Author(s): Jacob Fredman, Theodore Kapogiannis, Dhanya Mahesh, Jennifer Hong
Citation: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 270, 109596
Date: 07/2026
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Analyzes how rural versus urban dwelling and hospital setting influence interhospital transfer, mortality, length of stay, and other aspects related to access to and quality of neurosurgical care. Uses 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data for patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2.
Author(s): Jacob Fredman, Theodore Kapogiannis, Dhanya Mahesh, Jennifer Hong
Citation: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 270, 109596
Date: 07/2026
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2024-26 Florida Physician Assistant Workforce Survey Report
Results of a survey of 14,229 physician assistants (PAs) who renewed their Florida licenses during the 2026 renewal cycle. Features statistics including the number of Florida PAs whose primary practice locations were rural clinics or rural hospitals.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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Results of a survey of 14,229 physician assistants (PAs) who renewed their Florida licenses during the 2026 renewal cycle. Features statistics including the number of Florida PAs whose primary practice locations were rural clinics or rural hospitals.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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