Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Examining the Burden of Chronic Disease and Low SES to Identify High-Need Rural Counties
Analyzes the geographic and sociodemographic profile of rural, high-need counties in the United States. Examines chronic disease prevalence, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare facilities by county, with additional breakdowns by demographic characteristics of low-, moderate-, and high-need counties.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 31(5), 691-699
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the geographic and sociodemographic profile of rural, high-need counties in the United States. Examines chronic disease prevalence, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare facilities by county, with additional breakdowns by demographic characteristics of low-, moderate-, and high-need counties.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 31(5), 691-699
Date: 09/2025
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Nursing Homes Failed to Report 43 Percent of Falls With Major Injury and Hospitalization among Their Medicare-Enrolled Residents
Explores the extent to which falls with major injury that resulted in hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents were accurately reported by nursing homes in Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments between July 2022 and June 2023. Compares the nursing home and patient characteristics associated with higher rates of unreported falls, including nursing home size, ownership structure, rurality, and overall star rating.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Explores the extent to which falls with major injury that resulted in hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents were accurately reported by nursing homes in Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments between July 2022 and June 2023. Compares the nursing home and patient characteristics associated with higher rates of unreported falls, including nursing home size, ownership structure, rurality, and overall star rating.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Hospital Trends in the Use, Evaluation, and Governance of Predictive AI, 2023-2024
Describes trends in the foundational use, evaluation, and governance of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitals using data from the 2023 and 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on the differences in acute care hospitals' use of predictive AI by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, independent/system affiliation, and electronic health record (EHR) vendor.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes trends in the foundational use, evaluation, and governance of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitals using data from the 2023 and 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on the differences in acute care hospitals' use of predictive AI by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, independent/system affiliation, and electronic health record (EHR) vendor.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Tax-Exempt Hospitals Provided Nearly $149 Billion in Total Benefits to Their Communities
Summarizes the benefits nonprofit hospitals provide their communities based on an analysis of IRS Form 990 Schedule H. Addresses the percent spent on financial assistance, health professions education, medical research, community building activities, and other categories included on Schedule H. Includes data for rural and Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Summarizes the benefits nonprofit hospitals provide their communities based on an analysis of IRS Form 990 Schedule H. Addresses the percent spent on financial assistance, health professions education, medical research, community building activities, and other categories included on Schedule H. Includes data for rural and Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Oregon Areas of Unmet Health Care Need Report, 2025
Covers nine variables that describe areas of unmet healthcare need in Oregon and measure access to primary care, mental, and oral healthcare services. Areas of unmet need are scored based on variables within the following categories: availability of providers, ability to afford care, and utilization. Includes statistics and county-level information by service areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Covers nine variables that describe areas of unmet healthcare need in Oregon and measure access to primary care, mental, and oral healthcare services. Areas of unmet need are scored based on variables within the following categories: availability of providers, ability to afford care, and utilization. Includes statistics and county-level information by service areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Modeling the Impact of Changing Drug Markets and Structural Determinants on HCV and/or HIV Transmission Among People Who Inject Drugs in the United States: A Rural and Urban Comparison
Details a study exploring the impact of changing patterns of drug use in rural and urban areas are affecting the rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID). Compares rates of infection and drug use in San Diego, CA and rural Central and Northern, WI.
Author(s): Natasha K. Martin, Daniela Abramovitz, William H. Eger, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Drug Policy, 143, 104925
Date: 09/2025
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Details a study exploring the impact of changing patterns of drug use in rural and urban areas are affecting the rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID). Compares rates of infection and drug use in San Diego, CA and rural Central and Northern, WI.
Author(s): Natasha K. Martin, Daniela Abramovitz, William H. Eger, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Drug Policy, 143, 104925
Date: 09/2025
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Effectiveness of Nirsevimab among Infants in their First RSV Season in the United States, October 2023–March 2024: A Test-Negative Design Analysis
Analyzes the impact of the nirsevimab antibody for infants in their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. Utilizes 2023-2024 electronic health record (EHR) data from 6 healthcare systems to examine RSV-associated emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization according to patient demographics, social determinants of health, health conditions, and location on the rural-urban continuum.
Author(s): Amanda B. Payne, Steph Battan-Wraith, Elizabeth A.K. Rowley, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 49, 101196
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the impact of the nirsevimab antibody for infants in their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. Utilizes 2023-2024 electronic health record (EHR) data from 6 healthcare systems to examine RSV-associated emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization according to patient demographics, social determinants of health, health conditions, and location on the rural-urban continuum.
Author(s): Amanda B. Payne, Steph Battan-Wraith, Elizabeth A.K. Rowley, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 49, 101196
Date: 09/2025
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Medications for Opioid Use Disorder among Adults Who Had an Opioid Use Disorder
Offers National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data on adults receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) between 2022 and 2024 by age, sex, region, and metropolitan county status.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Offers National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data on adults receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) between 2022 and 2024 by age, sex, region, and metropolitan county status.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Difficulties in Functioning Among Children in the United States: 2021–2023
Offers data on children with difficulties in functioning between 2021 and 2023. Domains investigated include seeing, hearing, walking, communication, behavior, learning, fine motor, playing, self-care, remembering, concentrating, coping with change, relationships, and affect. Includes comparison by 4 levels of urbanization.
Author(s): Julie D. Weeks, Jennifer H. Madans, Lindsey I. Black, Nazik Elgaddal, Benjamin Zablotsky
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers data on children with difficulties in functioning between 2021 and 2023. Domains investigated include seeing, hearing, walking, communication, behavior, learning, fine motor, playing, self-care, remembering, concentrating, coping with change, relationships, and affect. Includes comparison by 4 levels of urbanization.
Author(s): Julie D. Weeks, Jennifer H. Madans, Lindsey I. Black, Nazik Elgaddal, Benjamin Zablotsky
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Comparison of Discharge Disposition and AHA Prehospital Stroke Compliance among Urban, Suburban, and Rural EMS Agencies
Compares patient outcomes and compliance with quality of care guidelines among rural, suburban, and urban EMS agencies. Utilizes prehospital encounter data from 31 Colorado and Wyoming hospitals from 2020 to 2022.
Author(s): Daria S. Nicke, Courtney Wham, Ian Espinoza, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 34(9), 108402
Date: 09/2025
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Compares patient outcomes and compliance with quality of care guidelines among rural, suburban, and urban EMS agencies. Utilizes prehospital encounter data from 31 Colorado and Wyoming hospitals from 2020 to 2022.
Author(s): Daria S. Nicke, Courtney Wham, Ian Espinoza, et al.
Citation: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 34(9), 108402
Date: 09/2025
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