Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Willingness of Older Adults to Travel for Medical Care
Presents results from a survey of 2650 adults aged 65 years and older on their willingness to travel for primary care, specialty care, and one-time diagnostic appointments. See Table 3 for metro-nonmetro data comparisons, among other demographic data breakdowns.
Author(s): Jeremy Burke, Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Wei Ye, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2560280
Date: 02/2026
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Presents results from a survey of 2650 adults aged 65 years and older on their willingness to travel for primary care, specialty care, and one-time diagnostic appointments. See Table 3 for metro-nonmetro data comparisons, among other demographic data breakdowns.
Author(s): Jeremy Burke, Tabasa Ozawa, Ying Liu, Wei Ye, Soeren Mattke
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2560280
Date: 02/2026
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Geographic Distribution of Gastroenterologists and Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States
Analyzes the geographic distribution of gastroenterologists alongside patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Provides ratios on the availability of gastroenterologists per 100,000 people in the general population and per 100 patients with IBD. Includes data on rurality of gastroenterologists and patients as well as U.S. maps showing their distribution.
Author(s): Navneet Upadhyay, Aisha Vadhariya, Magdaliz Gorritz, et al.
Citation: Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology 17(2), e00953
Date: 02/2026
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Analyzes the geographic distribution of gastroenterologists alongside patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Provides ratios on the availability of gastroenterologists per 100,000 people in the general population and per 100 patients with IBD. Includes data on rurality of gastroenterologists and patients as well as U.S. maps showing their distribution.
Author(s): Navneet Upadhyay, Aisha Vadhariya, Magdaliz Gorritz, et al.
Citation: Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology 17(2), e00953
Date: 02/2026
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Mortality Trends Involving Fatal-Arrhythmias and Anemia in the United States: A Retrospective Analysis of 25 Years
Examines trends in mortality associated with cardiac arrhythmias among anemic adults using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data, with demographic and geographic data breakdowns. See Figure 4 and Supplemental Table 5 for rural-specific data.
Author(s): Sarim Hassan Shahab, Saim Jan, Abdul Wasay, et al.
Citation: Medicine, 105(8), e47838
Date: 02/2026
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Examines trends in mortality associated with cardiac arrhythmias among anemic adults using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data, with demographic and geographic data breakdowns. See Figure 4 and Supplemental Table 5 for rural-specific data.
Author(s): Sarim Hassan Shahab, Saim Jan, Abdul Wasay, et al.
Citation: Medicine, 105(8), e47838
Date: 02/2026
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Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Urban vs. Rural Survival Outcomes from the United States' National Cancer Institute, a SEER Based Study
Compares Merkel cell carcinoma survival outcomes among rural and urban patients using 2010-2021 SEER data. Discusses the role of access barriers on cancer mortality among rural populations.
Author(s): Grace Evelyn Steinback, Joycie Chang, Anand Rajpara, Michael Siscos
Citation: Clinical Surgical Oncology, 5(1), 100120
Date: 02/2026
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Compares Merkel cell carcinoma survival outcomes among rural and urban patients using 2010-2021 SEER data. Discusses the role of access barriers on cancer mortality among rural populations.
Author(s): Grace Evelyn Steinback, Joycie Chang, Anand Rajpara, Michael Siscos
Citation: Clinical Surgical Oncology, 5(1), 100120
Date: 02/2026
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Methamphetamine Use, Mental Health Comorbidities, and Treatment in Rural and Urban Areas, 2016-2019
Examines the prevalence of methamphetamine use by level of rurality and U.S. region, with data on methamphetamine use and mental illness, suicide and suicidal ideation, concurrent alcohol use, treatment for methamphetamine use disorder, method of use, and other relating to methamphetamine use prevalence and associated risks.
Author(s): Signe E. Burchim, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, et al.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Examines the prevalence of methamphetamine use by level of rurality and U.S. region, with data on methamphetamine use and mental illness, suicide and suicidal ideation, concurrent alcohol use, treatment for methamphetamine use disorder, method of use, and other relating to methamphetamine use prevalence and associated risks.
Author(s): Signe E. Burchim, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, et al.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Wisconsin Health Care Workforce Report
Provides information on the healthcare workforce in Wisconsin, with a focus on healthcare training and career pathways, healthcare demand and capacity, optimizing and retaining the current workforce, and more. Includes discussion on rural-focused healthcare training.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Hospital Association
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Provides information on the healthcare workforce in Wisconsin, with a focus on healthcare training and career pathways, healthcare demand and capacity, optimizing and retaining the current workforce, and more. Includes discussion on rural-focused healthcare training.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Hospital Association
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Bypass of Local Surgical Care in North Carolina: Patient-Directed Care Destination and Utilization
Examines patient bypass of nearest surgical hospital (NSH) in North Carolina. Utilizes 2016-2019 patient data to analyze bypassing of local surgery care according to rurality of NSH and facility characteristics, general surgery workforce density by county, and patient characteristics, including residence of metro, micro, small town, or rural area.
Author(s): Mustafa Abid, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes, Anthony Charles
Citation: The American Surgeon
Date: 02/2026
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Examines patient bypass of nearest surgical hospital (NSH) in North Carolina. Utilizes 2016-2019 patient data to analyze bypassing of local surgery care according to rurality of NSH and facility characteristics, general surgery workforce density by county, and patient characteristics, including residence of metro, micro, small town, or rural area.
Author(s): Mustafa Abid, Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes, Anthony Charles
Citation: The American Surgeon
Date: 02/2026
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Nonventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: Prevalence and Hospital and Patient Characteristics, 2019-2023
Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays involving nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NVHAP) between 2019-2023. Examines data by patient and hospital characteristics, including patient age group, urban or rural location, Critical Access Hospital status, and hospital ownership status.
Author(s): Rhona Limcangco, David P. Calfee, Melissa A. Miller
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays involving nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NVHAP) between 2019-2023. Examines data by patient and hospital characteristics, including patient age group, urban or rural location, Critical Access Hospital status, and hospital ownership status.
Author(s): Rhona Limcangco, David P. Calfee, Melissa A. Miller
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Usual Source of Care for Rural Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries in 2021
Explores Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries' usual source of care in 2021. Describes the types of facilities that serve as primary care providers for rural Medicare FFS beneficiaries. Compares the usual source of care for beneficiaries by demographic characteristics, including degree of rurality.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Melissa Sandahl, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Mark Holmes
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Explores Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries' usual source of care in 2021. Describes the types of facilities that serve as primary care providers for rural Medicare FFS beneficiaries. Compares the usual source of care for beneficiaries by demographic characteristics, including degree of rurality.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Melissa Sandahl, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Mark Holmes
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Trends in Respiratory Failure Mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2023
Examines changes over time in respiratory failure among adults aged 45 years and older, using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data. Breaks down data by demographic group, including metro-nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Yunfei Shu, Suihan Xu, Biao Zeng, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Medicine, 13, 1718556
Date: 02/2026
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Examines changes over time in respiratory failure among adults aged 45 years and older, using 1999-2023 CDC WONDER data. Breaks down data by demographic group, including metro-nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Yunfei Shu, Suihan Xu, Biao Zeng, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Medicine, 13, 1718556
Date: 02/2026
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