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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services

Introducing Telehealth to Rural and Indigenous Communities: A Telehealth 101 Virtual Workshop for Tribes
Webinar recordings from a 2-day workshop on telehealth implementation in rural and Indigenous communities. Presentation topics include telehealth business, technology, standards, and evaluation; health equity; maternal health; Indian Health Service (IHS) resources; telehealth funding; telebehavioral health and telemedicine-based Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT); and other telehealth-related topics.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: American Indian Public Health Resource Center, Health Resources and Services Administration, North Dakota Department of Health
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Rural Health Research Recap: Rural Ethnic/Racial Disparities: Social and Systemic Inequities
Highlights the racial and ethnic disparities related to the social determinants of health. Breaks down rates of poverty, broadband access, education, and insurance, among other measures, of Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in rural and urban areas.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Ensuring Health Across Rural Minnesota in 2030
Offers recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders on how to expand access to high-quality and inexpensive healthcare for rural communities in Minnesota. Covers trends in factors that may affect rural health, such as increased diversity, older populations, higher healthcare costs, lack of broadband, closures of healthcare facilities, and more. Discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated issues in rural communities.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Evaluating Telehealth Adoption and Related Barriers Among Hospitals Located in Rural and Urban Areas
Study examining telehealth adoption in hospitals, comparing rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan areas using 2018 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey data. Discusses barriers to telehealth implementation related to health information exchange (HIE) capacity and patient engagement through health information technology (HIT) systems.
Author(s): Jie Chen, Aitalohi Amaize, Deanna Barath
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(4), 801-811
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Computerized Capability of Office-Based Physicians to Identify Patients Who Need Preventive or Follow-up Care — United States, 2017
Examines the capability among U.S. office-based physicians to provide electronic reminders to decrease missed care. Includes data for metropolitan and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Damon F. Ogburn, Brian W. Ward, Alicia Ward
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(44), 1622-1624
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Telehealth in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Rural Health Disparities
Investigates the potential effects of telehealth implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic on rural health disparities. Includes discussion on telehealth initiatives and barriers to accessing broadband, and provides recommendations for researchers and policymakers.
Author(s): Kelly A. Hirko, Jean M. Kerver, Sabrina Ford, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 27(11), 1816–1818
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Connecting Rural Older Americans with Technology: Lessons from Senior Planet
Highlights an initiative aiming to increase technology literacy among rural older adults in New York through the launch of technology centers, local partnerships, and training. Discusses implementation and lessons learned, including adapting the program to offer a home-based component.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senior Planet
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Internet Access Disparities in Alabama & the Black Belt
Issue brief describing disparities in access to broadband service in Alabama's Black Belt region, comparing access to broadband coverage at rates above 100 Mbps and above 25 Mbps for all counties in the state to the statewide average. Discusses investments in broadband infrastructure in the region and in other rural areas of Alabama, telehealth access during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nationwide efforts to expand broadband coverage.
Author(s): Stephen G. Katsinas, Noel E. Keeney, Emily Jacobs, Emily Grace Corley, Hunter Whann
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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Telecommunications: FCC Should Enhance Performance Goals and Measures for Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas
Examines the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) high-cost program's performance goals and measures and how they align with leading practices to enable the effective use of performance information. The high-cost program is designed to promote broadband deployment in areas that are not currently served by broadband. Discusses three key challenges the program faces in meeting its goals. Provides recommendations to the Chairman of the FCC to improve performance goals and measures and increase transparency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Coronavirus Pandemic Highlights Critical Gaps in Rural Internet Access for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers: A Call for Partnership with Medical Libraries
Highlights the challenges of reaching migrant and seasonal farmworkers with public health information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discuses migrants' lack of broadband internet as an inhibitor to migrants' ability to access both healthcare and public health information.
Author(s): Joseph G. L. Lee, Catherine E. LePrevost, Emery L. Harwell, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Medical Library Association, 108(4), 651-655
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
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