Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Why Are Rural Hospitals Closing in the U.S.? Predictors Identified Using Explainable Machine Learning
Examines rural hospital closures in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. Utilizes national longitudinal data and explainable machine learning (XML) to analyze 2,683 rural hospitals according to financial, operational, and demographic characteristics as well as closure risks. Discusses the utility of longitudinal data integrated into XML to observe hospital trends and create early warning systems.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Tesfamariam M. Abuhay, Hana E. Hinkle
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 1049
Date: 05/2026
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Examines rural hospital closures in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. Utilizes national longitudinal data and explainable machine learning (XML) to analyze 2,683 rural hospitals according to financial, operational, and demographic characteristics as well as closure risks. Discusses the utility of longitudinal data integrated into XML to observe hospital trends and create early warning systems.
Author(s): Kiruthika Balakrishnan, Tesfamariam M. Abuhay, Hana E. Hinkle
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 1049
Date: 05/2026
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A Pilot Evaluation of a Telemedicine Pharmacist-Physician Management Model to Increase Access to Medication for Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorders for Rural Veterans
Explores the efficacy of a pilot project connecting rural veterans with alcohol and opioid use disorder to evidence-based treatment via a telehealth-based pharmacist-physician management model (PPMM). Program was administered by six Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Breaks down data by participant age, sex, substances used, and mental health disorders, among other measures.
Author(s): Amy J. Kennedy, Madeline C. Frost, Carol A. Malte, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70158
Date: 05/2026
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Explores the efficacy of a pilot project connecting rural veterans with alcohol and opioid use disorder to evidence-based treatment via a telehealth-based pharmacist-physician management model (PPMM). Program was administered by six Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Breaks down data by participant age, sex, substances used, and mental health disorders, among other measures.
Author(s): Amy J. Kennedy, Madeline C. Frost, Carol A. Malte, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70158
Date: 05/2026
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Effective and Cost-Effective Strategies for Recruiting Rural Adults into a Civic Engagement and Health Behavior Change Research Study
Discusses the underrepresentation of rural populations in health research and strategies to improve their participation. Focuses on a community-based health intervention that took place in Texas and New York and includes data showing the cost effectiveness and impact of rural recruitment strategies.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Meredith L. Graham, Karla L. Hanson, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 26, 2179
Date: 05/2026
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Discusses the underrepresentation of rural populations in health research and strategies to improve their participation. Focuses on a community-based health intervention that took place in Texas and New York and includes data showing the cost effectiveness and impact of rural recruitment strategies.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler, Meredith L. Graham, Karla L. Hanson, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 26, 2179
Date: 05/2026
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Vermont 2025 Fatal Overdose Report
Offers data on overdose deaths in Vermont through 2025, including drug types, manner of death, trends over time, and demographic characteristics. Features county-level maps showing rates of overdose by county of residence and by county of death.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Offers data on overdose deaths in Vermont through 2025, including drug types, manner of death, trends over time, and demographic characteristics. Features county-level maps showing rates of overdose by county of residence and by county of death.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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From Conversation to Completion: Identifying Conversation Elements to Support Effective Shared Decision-Making for Lung Cancer Screening in Rural Primary Care
Evaluates how aspects of the shared decision-making (SDM) process influence lung cancer screening behaviors and attitudes among rural adults via a survey of 173 rural Appalachian West Virginians. Discusses information sources, provider conversation elements, topics discussed, practical considerations, and more.
Author(s): Dannell Boatman, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Lesley Cottrell, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 255
Date: 05/2026
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Evaluates how aspects of the shared decision-making (SDM) process influence lung cancer screening behaviors and attitudes among rural adults via a survey of 173 rural Appalachian West Virginians. Discusses information sources, provider conversation elements, topics discussed, practical considerations, and more.
Author(s): Dannell Boatman, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Lesley Cottrell, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 255
Date: 05/2026
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Bridging The Gap CoC: Homeless Point-in-Time Count January 25, 2026
Report offering point-in-time data on the homeless population in Hawaii's rural Hawaii, Kaua`i, and Maui counties. Discusses trends over time for various populations including veterans, children, families, people with substance use disorder, and more. See Dashboards for additional data.
Additional links: Dashboards
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Bridging the Gap, Ka Mana O Na Helu
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Report offering point-in-time data on the homeless population in Hawaii's rural Hawaii, Kaua`i, and Maui counties. Discusses trends over time for various populations including veterans, children, families, people with substance use disorder, and more. See Dashboards for additional data.
Additional links: Dashboards
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Bridging the Gap, Ka Mana O Na Helu
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2025 Pennsylvania Farm Fatal Injury Summary
Summarizes data related to farm fatal injuries in Pennsylvania in 2025. Includes statistics on victim demographics, types of injuries, and events leading to fatal injuries, and features a county-level map showing numbers of farm fatalities.
Author(s): Florence Becot
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Penn State Extension
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Summarizes data related to farm fatal injuries in Pennsylvania in 2025. Includes statistics on victim demographics, types of injuries, and events leading to fatal injuries, and features a county-level map showing numbers of farm fatalities.
Author(s): Florence Becot
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Penn State Extension
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Virginia's Assisted Living Facility Administrator Workforce: 2026
An overview of the assisted living facility administrator (ALFA) workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2026 Assisted Living Facility Administrator Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of ALFAs in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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An overview of the assisted living facility administrator (ALFA) workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2026 Assisted Living Facility Administrator Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of ALFAs in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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Virginia's Nursing Home Administrator Workforce: 2026
An overview of the nursing home administrator (NHA) workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2026 Nursing Home Administrator Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of NHAs in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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An overview of the nursing home administrator (NHA) workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2026 Nursing Home Administrator Workforce Survey. Features statistics including the number of NHAs in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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Rural-Urban Disparity in Postacute Care and 1-Year Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke
Examines how postacute stroke care varies among rural and urban-dwelling ischemic stroke patients, and how mortality, readmission, and home time varied at 1 year. Uses 2017-2022 Medicare beneficiary data.
Author(s): Shumei Man, Jie-Lena Sun, Brooke Alhanti, et al.
Citation: Stroke, 57(7), 2138-2149
Date: 05/2026
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Examines how postacute stroke care varies among rural and urban-dwelling ischemic stroke patients, and how mortality, readmission, and home time varied at 1 year. Uses 2017-2022 Medicare beneficiary data.
Author(s): Shumei Man, Jie-Lena Sun, Brooke Alhanti, et al.
Citation: Stroke, 57(7), 2138-2149
Date: 05/2026
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