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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and 30 Day Rehospitalizations: An Analysis of Medicare Data
Examines the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and 30-day rehospitalizations for patients discharged with congestive heart failure, pneumonia, or acute myocardial infarction. Includes data by location of patient residence for small town/rural, large town, suburban, and urban core areas.
Author(s): Amy J.H. Kind, Steve Jencks, Jane Brock, et al.
Citation: Annals of Internal Medicine, 161(11), 765-774
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
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Cancer Disparities Among Alaska Native People, 1970-2011
Examines cancer incidence and mortality data for Alaska Native (AN) people in different categories and varying year ranges from 1970 through 2011, and compares cancer rates for AN and U.S. White populations. Shows that cancer mortality rates among AN people exceeded rates among White people for all cancers combined, for cancers of the lung, stomach, pancreas, kidney, and cervix, and for colorectal cancer.
Author(s): Janet J. Kelly, Anne P. Lanier, Teresa Schade, Jennifer Brantley, B. Michael Starkey
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 11
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
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Rural Areas Lag Urban Areas in College Completion
Compares rural to urban post-high school educational attainment, with a focus on college completion rates, based on 2008-2012 American Community Survey data. Shows trends via comparison to 2000 Census data.
Author(s): Alexander Marré
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Homelessness Declines, but Is Still Difficult to Assess in Rural Areas
Provides the percentage of the national homeless population living in rural areas in 2014 and discusses challenges in determining the accurate number of homeless individuals and families living in rural communities.
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Impact of Home Health Payment Rebasing on Beneficiary Access to and Quality of Care
Measures the impact of base-payment reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act on beneficiary access to and the quality of care provided by home health agencies. Reports findings across geographic area (rural and urban).
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural-Urban Differences in Continuity of Care among Medicare Beneficiaries
Analyzes emerging care and payment models such as patient-centered medical homes, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and bundled payments to identify differences in continuity of care when applied to rural vs. urban settings.
Author(s): Matthew Toth, Caroleen Quach, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Physician Motivations for Adoption of Electronic Health Records
Identifies characteristics of physicians who have not yet adopted an electronic health record (EHR) to gain an understanding of gaps and barriers in EHR use.
Author(s): Dawn Heisey-Grove, Vaishali Patel
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Utilization of Intensive Care Services, 2011
Provides data on utilization of intensive care services across 29 states. Table 3 provides information on ICU utilization by hospital characteristics, including metropolitan or nonmetropolitan location and hospital designation (Critical Access or teaching).
Author(s): Marguerite L. Barrett, Mark W. Smith, Anne Elixhauser, Leah S. Honigman, Jesse M. Pines
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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All Rural Places Are Not Created Equal: Revisiting the Rural Mortality Penalty in the United States
Examines disparities in mortality between rural and urban areas in the U.S. by measuring disparities across different levels of rurality. Includes data for rural populations and excess deaths. Table 2 covers mortality by percent African American, percent in poverty, percent age 65 years and older, region, emergency department visits, hospital physicians, and hospital beds.
Author(s): Wesley L. James
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 104(11), 2122-2129
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
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Household Poverty and Nonfatal Violent Victimization, 2008-2012
Report on the impact of poverty level on victims of violent crime. Includes data and statistics for rate of violent crime, demographics, location of residence (including rural), and region of the country.
Author(s): Erika Harrell, Lynn Langton, Marcus Berzofsky, Lance Couzens, and Hope Smiley-McDonald
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Justice
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