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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

California Physician Supply and Distribution: Headed for a Drought?
Describes the physicians in California as of 2015, including number, practice activities, demographics, and geographical distribution. Uses data from the Medical Board of California's survey for relicensure and a voluntary supplemental survey. Includes recommendations for maximizing physician resources in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Janet M. Coffman, Margaret Fix, Michelle Ko
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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Child Poverty Rates are Persistently Highest in Rural Counties and in the South
Bar chart showing child poverty rates in 2007 and 2016 for the U.S. as a whole, for metropolitan and nonmetro counties, and by region.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Geographic Variation in Pediatric Cancer Incidence — United States, 2003–2014
Examines pediatric cancer rates by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, state, region, county-level economic status, county-level rural/urban classification, and type of cancer.
Author(s): David A. Siegel, Jun Li, S. Jane Henley, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(25), 707-713
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Availability of Respiratory Care Services in Critical Access and Rural Hospitals
Policy brief describing availability of respiratory therapy and therapists in Critical Access Hospitals and in urban and rural Prospective Payment System hospitals in 2016. Includes statistics with breakdowns by hospital type and rural or urban location.
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Alex Evenson, Ira Moscovice, Zhengtian Wu
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Obesity Prevalence Among Adults Living in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties — United States, 2016
Reports on obesity prevalence among adults in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties based on 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes metro/nonmetro data by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and employment status. Also provides state-by-state data on obesity prevalence in metro and nonmetro counties.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Lundeen, Sohyun Park, Liping Pan, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(23), 653-658
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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PAs in Rural Locations Ready to Meet Primary Care Needs
Describes characteristics of physician assistants (PAs) working in rural areas, based on data collected from 9,140 PAs for the 2018 American Academy of PAs Salary Survey. Features statistics with breakdowns by rural or urban location and by various medical specialties.
Author(s): Noel Smith
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: American Academy of PAs
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Geographic Variation in Uncompensated Care Between Rural and Urban Hospitals
Findings brief describing how uncompensated hospital care varies across regions of the country, using data from the 2014-2016 Medicare Cost Report Worksheet S-10. Features statistics including breakdowns by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), other rural hospitals, and urban hospitals.
Author(s): Krystal G. Garcia, Kristie Thompson, Hilda A. Howard, George H. Pink
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Mental Health-related Physician Office Visits by Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2012–2014
Examines adult mental health-related physician office visits by specialty and patient characteristics. Includes information on visits to psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and other physicians in large metropolitan, medium to small metropolitan, and rural areas.
Additional links: Questions for the Lead Author, NCHStats blog
Author(s): Donald Cherry, Michael Albert, Linda F. McCaig
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Health Insurance Coverage by Occupation Among Adults Aged 18–64 Years — 17 States, 2013–2014
Examines changes in health insurance coverage between 2013 and 2014. Includes data on health insurance among employed workers by selected characteristics, including rural residence. Provides health insurance data by occupational group. Reports on 17 states that asked all Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey participants about healthcare coverage and asked employed participants about their industry and occupation.
Author(s): Winifred L. Boal, Jia Li, Aaron Sussell
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(21), 593-598
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Interaction Between Rural/Urban Status and Dual Use Status among Veterans with Heart Failure
Details a study on hospitalization and emergency department use by veterans with heart failure who use VA-only services or use a combination of VA and other healthcare services. Examines the role of urban and rural status in the veterans healthcare utilization rates.
Author(s): Kelly J Hunt, Mulugeta Gebregziahber, Charles J Everett, Paul A Heidenreich, Robert Neal
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 18(2), 4495
Date: 05/2018
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