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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Intra Rural and Urban Primary Care Physician Findings: AAMC 2009 Physician Survey of Primary Care Chartbook
Analyzes primary care physician survey data that was assembled by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in 2009/2010 prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide baseline measures in which to compare potential post ACA application studies.
Author(s): Gary Hart
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
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Variability in General Surgical Procedures in Rural and Urban U.S. Hospital Inpatient Settings
Analyzes rural and urban variations in frequently performed inpatient surgical procedures that could be handled by general surgeons rather than subspecialists.
Author(s): Mark P. Doescher, J. Elizabeth Jackson, Meredith A. Fordyce, Dana C. Lynge
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Choice and Affordability in the ACA's Health Insurance Exchanges
Investigates how geographic boundaries of health insurance marketplaces, made available by the Affordable Care Act, affect availability and prices of plans for individuals living in rural areas.
Author(s): Michael Dickstein
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research
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QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Homicide Rates, by Urbanization of County of Residence - United States, 2004 and 2013
Bar chart comparing 2004 and 2013 homicide rates in urban and rural counties.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 64(05), 133
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Use and Performance Variations in U.S. Rural Emergency Departments: Implications for Improving Care Quality and Reducing Costs
Illustrates the utilization and performance of emergency departments (EDs) across the urban/rural spectrum for non-emergency health conditions. Identifies and discusses the potential risk factors that may impact ED use for non-emergent healthcare.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Marilyn G. Klug, Gary Hart
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
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Health Workforce, Healthy Economy
Highlights the health workforce as an economic development strategy, as well as a way to improve healthcare access, particularly in rural communities. Identifies gaps in Arizona's health workforce by examining previous reports and available data, such as the number of licensed healthcare providers by county. Includes maps of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organizations: St. Luke's Health Initiatives (now Vitalyst Health Foundation), Vitalyst Health Foundation
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Health Status of HIV-Infected Women Entering Care: Baseline Medical Findings from the Women of Color Initiative
Study of rural and urban clinics examining HIV-infected women of color reporting unhealthy days, limits in activity when entering or re-entering HIV care, and an analysis of demographic and clinical variables associated with limits in activity. Includes demographic information for rural and urban women by activity limits and clinical characteristics.
Author(s): E. Byrd Quinlivan, Jason Fletcher, Elizabeth A. Eastwood, et al.
Citation: AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 29(Suppl 1), S11-S19
Date: 01/2015
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Connecting People to the Source of Their Food: Changing the Way We Think about Food to Improve Health
Presents a study on local food systems as a means of providing access to healthy food in rural communities. Compares outcomes in rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Emily Jackson
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 76(1), 54-56
Date: 01/2015
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Rural/Urban Residence, Access, and Perceived Need for Treatment among African American Cocaine Users
Reports findings from a study based on surveys from 400 adult African American cocaine users, half from 2 rural counties and half from 1 urban county in Arkansas. Discusses participants' perceived need for drug use treatment, factors predisposing treatment, and socioeconomic factors that enable or discourage treatment.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Brenda M. Booth, Katharine E. Stewart, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(1), 98-107
Date: 01/2015
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Health Insurance Marketplace 2015 Open Enrollment Period: January Enrollment Report
Provides data on the 2015 Open Enrollment period, describing the number of Americans who enrolled in the individual, federally-sponsored health insurance Marketplace. Appendix Table A1 shows plan selection by gender, age, race, and rural status.
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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