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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

The Effect of Minority Status and Rural Residence on Actions to Control High Blood Pressure in the U.S.
Compares differences in current and recommended strategies to control blood pressure with breakdowns by White urban, White rural, Black urban, and Black rural status. Includes statistics covering sex, age group, education, income level, marital status, employment, health status, insurance, and treatment methods.
Author(s): Charles Ellis, Anouk L. Grubaugh, Leonard E. Egede
Citation: Public Health Reports, 125(6)
Date: 11/2010
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Geographic Differences in Potentially Preventable Readmission Rates in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Presents results from a study that estimated potentially preventable hospital readmissions (PPRs) in three types of acute care hospitals: urban prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals, rural PPS hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Focuses on rural/urban differences and whether patient demographics or health condition severity affects PPR rates.
Author(s): Marilyn G. Klug, Alana Knudson, Kyle Muus
Date: 11/2010
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
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Emergency Department Visits for Adults in Community Hospitals, 2008
Uses statistics from the 2008 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample to analyze rates of emergency room visits. Compares data by demographics, acute vs. chronic care, rural vs. urban, high-income vs. low-income, and admissions vs. treat-and-release.
Author(s): Pamela L. Owens, Ryan Mutter
Date: 11/2010
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Impact of Employment Transitions on Health Insurance Coverage of Rural Residents
Explores the impact of changes in employment status on insurance coverage for rural and urban workers.
Additional links: Policy Brief: Many Urban and Rural Workers Lose Health Insurance During Job Transitions
Author(s): Nathaniel J. Anderson, Erika C. Ziller, Melanie M. Race, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 10/2010
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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The Impact of Freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Centers on Rural Community Hospital Performance, 1997–2006
Describes the impact of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) on rural hospital markets. Includes a comparison of urban and rural freestanding ASC services.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Walter Gregg, Douglas Wholey, Ira Moscovice
Date: 10/2010
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
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Access to Mental Health Services and Family Impact of Rural Children with Mental Health Problems
Provides information on the prevalence of children's mental health needs and associated access to care, and family impact across rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Policy Brief: Mental Health Problems Have Considerable Impact on Rural Children and their Families
Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, Erika C. Ziller, David Lambert, Melanie M. Race, Anush Yousefian
Date: 10/2010
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Commute Times, Food Retail Gaps, and Body Mass Index in North Carolina Counties
Examines potential impact that longer commute times and limited access to affordable, healthy food have on the rural obesity disparity. Includes statistical breakdowns by age, weight status, race, education, and income level.
Author(s): Stephanie B. Jilcott, Haiyong Liu, Justin B. Moore, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 7(5)
Date: 09/2010
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A Comparison of Rural Hospitals with Special Medicare Payment Provisions to Urban and Rural Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment
Compares the financial performance and condition of rural hospitals with special Medicare payment provisions - Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Medicare Dependent Hospitals (MDHs), Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs), and Rural Referral Centers (RRCs) - to urban and rural hospitals paid under prospective payment.
Additional links: Findings Brief: A Financial Comparison of Rural Hospitals With Special Medicare Payment Provisions to Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment, 4/2010, Findings Brief: Profitability of Rural Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment Compared to Rural Hospitals with Special Medicare Payment Provisions, 9/2010
Author(s): G. Mark Holmes, George H. Pink, Sarah A. Friedman, Hilda A. Howard
Date: 08/2010
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Future of Family Medicine and Implications for Rural Primary Care Physician Supply
Examines the rural physician shortage, the effect of recent trends in specialty choice on provider supply, and major trends that are changing the dynamics that shape the delivery of healthcare. Identifies policy options that could help increase the number of rural family medicine physicians.
Additional links: Policy Brief, June 2009
Author(s): Roger A. Rosenblatt, Frederick M. Chen, Denise M. Lishner, Mark P. Doescher
Date: 08/2010
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Use of Emergency Departments for Conditions Related to Poor Oral Health Care
Reports findings from a study of seven states that looked at use of emergency departments to address oral health needs. Provides data for rural and urban areas and discusses the potential impacts of differences in state Medicaid policies.
Author(s): Emily F. Shortridge, Jonathan R. Moore
Date: 08/2010
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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