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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care

Veterans Health Care: Services for Substance Use Disorders, and Efforts to Address Access Issues in Rural Areas
Identifies and compares the differences in the number of veterans, and the expenditures for veterans receiving substance use disorder (SUD) services, and specialty SUD services in rural and urban areas. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies were reviewed, interviews were conducted with agency officials, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data from 2014 to 2018 was analyzed to develop the report.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Partnership Integration for Rural Health Resource Access
Describes an interdisciplinary partnership model combining nursing, public health, and gerontology to address the health and social challenges affecting older adults living in rural areas. Offers steps for developing an interdisciplinary partnership and highlights a model utilizing clinical and non-clinical disciplines to improve rural health resource access.
Author(s): Teresa Sharp, Joyce Weil, Audrey Snyder, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 19(4), 5335
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
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Development, Acceptability, Appropriateness and Appeal of a Cancer Clinical Trials Implementation Intervention for Rural- and Minority-Serving Urology Practices
Describes an implementation intervention for urologists in rural and minority serving community practices to increase their participation in clinical trials supporting the development of new cancer therapies. Compares the acceptability of the intervention among a diverse group of urology practices in the South and Midwest United States.
Author(s): Shellie Ellis, Mugur Geana, Tomas Griebling, et al.
Citation: Trials, 20(1), 578
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
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Georgia Physician Workforce Report: Based on 2017-2018 Licensure Renewal Data and New Licensees, Primary Care and Core Specialties
Measures and tracks trends in physician demographics, supply, and distribution, using data from January 2017 to December 2018. Features county-level maps and statistics for all Georgia physicians and those specializing in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, general surgery, psychiatry, and emergency medicine, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Expanding HIV Care Through Telehealth
Discusses how telehealth programs benefit Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) recipients. Discusses the benefits for rural patients of provider-specialist programs like Project ECHO that offer telementoring to primary care providers and of programs that provide care directly to rural patients via telemedicine.
Citation: CAREAction Newsletter
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Telelactation via Mobile App: Perspectives of Rural Mothers, Their Care Providers, and Lactation Consultants
Analyzes the efficacy of direct-to-consumer (DTC) telelactation services in rural Pennsylvania in areas that lack in-person availability of international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs). Discusses potential challenges such as lack of personal relationships, preference for local resources, and limited WiFi in rural areas. Reflects on potential benefits including access to support and increased maternal breastfeeding confidence.
Author(s): Jill Demirci, Virginia Kotzias, Debra L. Bogen, Kristin N. Ray, Lori Uscher-Pines
Citation: Telemedicine Journal and E-Health, 25(9), 853-858
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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Impact of Rural Residence on Kidney Transplant Rates Among Waitlisted Candidates in the VA Transplant Programs
Details a study on the role rurality plays in kidney transplantation access among veterans. Breaks down data of waitlisted veterans by age, sex, and location, among other measures. Compares rates veterans and non-veterans for reference.
Author(s): Amy O'Shea, Carrie L. Franciscus, Peter J. Kaboli, Roberto S. Kalil
Citation: Transplantation, 103(9), 1945-1952
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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The Use of and Experiences With Telelactation Among Rural Breastfeeding Mothers: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Study exploring a telehealth video-based lactation service offered to rural Pennsylvania mothers through a Critical Access Hospital. Discusses data on study participation, number of telelactation video calls per participant, nature of the participants' concerns or questions, breastfeeding experience, and infant age. Describes challenges of providing lactation support in rural areas and presents telelactation services as a potential solution.
Author(s): Kandice Kapinos, Virginia Kotzias, Debra Bogen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(9), e13967
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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Enhancing Career Paths for Tomorrow's Radiation Oncologists
Presents several alternative or additional career paths for radiation oncologists. Details global health, radiation epidemiology, and frontier medicine among other paths.
Author(s): Neha Vapiwala, Charles R. Thomas, Jr, Surbhi Grover, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics, 105(1), 52-63
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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Russell County Hospital Listens to their Community to Improve Transitions of Care
Highlights quality improvement activities underway at a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in rural Kentucky. Discusses community collaboration efforts, expansion of specialty services, renovations, a focus on staff satisfaction, and care coordination activities.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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