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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Community Health Centers: Recent Growth and the Role of the ACA
Uses 2015 federal data on health centers and survey results from the 2016 Survey of Health Centers' Experiences and Activities to provide an overview of health centers and their patients. Compares health centers in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states, covering topics such as revenue sources, service capacity, patient demographics, patient health coverage, and more. Also discusses the distribution and impact of health centers in rural and medically underserved areas.
Author(s): Sara Rosenbaum, Julia Paradise, Anne Markus, et al.
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Stay Independent Checklist to Engage a Community of American Indians and Raise Awareness About Risk of Falls, 2016
Describes a program implemented to prevent falls among elders in the Zuni Pueblo community in rural western New Mexico.
Author(s): Janet Popp, Debra L. Waters, Karen Leekity, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14
Date: 01/2017
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Leading Causes of Death in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas — United States, 1999–2014
Investigates the differences in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan regions of the U.S. for the 5 leading causes of death (heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke) by analyzing and comparing mortality data derived from the National Vital Statistics System. Discusses the trends in annual age-adjusted death rates for unintentional injury for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of the U.S.
Additional links: Supplemental Maps: Figure 5, Supplemental Tables: Figures 2-5
Author(s): Ernest Moy, Macarena C. Garcia, Brigham Bastian, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(1), 1-8
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reducing Potentially Excess Deaths from the Five Leading Causes of Death in the Rural United States
Reports on rural-urban disparities regarding potentially preventable deaths caused by heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD), and stroke for populations less than 80 years of age. Discusses factors impacting the rural-urban gap, and offers suggestions for reducing these disparities and improving health. Updated in a November 2019 report.
Author(s): Macarena C. Garcia, Mark Faul, Greta Massetti, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(2), 1-7
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Native Americans with Diabetes: Better Diabetes Care Can Decrease Kidney Disease
Provides an overview of diabetes and related kidney disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Describes an Indian Health Service (IHS) approach using population health and team-based approaches to diabetes and kidney care.
Additional links: Podcast
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity
Identifies elements of effective solutions to advance health at the local or community level. Featured examples include the Delta Health Center, a rural Federally Qualified Health Center that uses a community-oriented primary care model to address population health. A brief overview of rural health disparities which includes a discussion on Appalachian health is found on pages 2-19 and 2-20. Appendix A provides a context for understanding Native American health.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on Community Based Solutions to Promote Health Equity in the United States
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Vital Signs: Decrease in Incidence of Diabetes-Related End-Stage Renal Disease among American Indians/Alaska Natives — United States, 1996–2013
Reports on diabetes-related end-stage renal disease by race/ethnicity from 1996-2013. Discusses clinical, public health, and population management approaches used by Indian Health Service that may have positively impacted incidence rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Author(s): Ann Bullock, Nilka Ríos Burrows, Andrew S. Narva, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(1), 26-32
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Cybersecurity: How a Rural Alaska Hospital Is Safeguarding Its Patients' Information
Provides an overview of cybersecurity threats and challenges faced by rural healthcare facilities. Describes how the IT staff at the South Peninsula Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in Alaska, safeguards their hospital's data.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Accounting for Social Risk Factors in Medicare Payment
Fifth and final report in a series designed to identify social risk factors that affect the health outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries and methods to account for these factors in Medicare payment programs. Offers thoughts about selecting the best methods to account for social risk factors and achieve policy goals. Chapter 2 includes a discussion about urbanicity and rurality, and suggests that a beneficiary's place of residence is a stronger indicator of social risk than their provider's location. Report was assembled by an ad hoc committee under the direction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on Accounting for Socioeconomic Status in Medicare Payment Programs
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Indian Health Service: Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Quality of Care
Reports results from a performance audit conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from March 2016 through January 2017, examining IHS's oversight of quality of care in its federally operated facilities. Draws conclusions based on a review of policies related to quality of care, interviews with IHS officials at the headquarters and area offices, and examination of documents from governance meetings. Makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on actions that can be taken to help ensure quality care is provided in federally operated IHS facilities. Appendices include the responding comments from HHS and provide additional information about leadership turnover at IHS offices and facilities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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