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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data

Rural‐Urban and Racial‐Ethnic Differences in Tele‐Behavioral Health Access for Medicaid Beneficiaries
Examines how rural versus urban and racial and ethnic tele-behavioral health access varied before and during the early COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico, using March 2019-March 2021 Medicaid claims data. Includes data comparisons of telehealth and in-person visits by demographic group, type of behavioral health service received, and level of broadband connectivity.
Author(s): Margaret Greenwood-Ericksen, Mohammed Quazi, Chloe Slator, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70155
Date: 05/2026
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Pre-Licensure Registered Nurse Education in South Carolina | 2020-2024
Describes trends in South Carolina's pre-licensure RN education from 2020-2024. Highlights the number and type of programs, enrollment and graduation trends, faculty characteristics, and licensure exam outcomes. Features statistics and a county-level map showing locations and types of programs as of 2024, with shading indicating rural counties.
Author(s): C. Campbell, M. Fluharty, C. Palmer
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium
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Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening among Alaska Native Peoples Living in Remote Areas of Alaska: A Multitarget Stool DNA Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Presents a study evaluating the efficacy of different colorectal cancer screening (CRC) outreach approaches to address high CRC rates among Alaska Native communities in remote areas of Alaska. Compares the outcomes of high-intensity outreach and medium-intensity outreach on patients' likelihood of participating in a CRC screening either by multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) or colonoscopy.
Author(s): Diana Redwood, Christie Flanagan, Lauren Jeffries, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27(1), 303
Date: 05/2026
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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