Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Telehealth Use for Primary Care Visits Has Stabilized, with Higher Use in Metropolitan Areas and Among Non-English Speakers
Analyzes the use of primary care telehealth over time using Epic Cosmos data. Includes graphs showing change in utilization from July 2024 to October 2025 by patient rurality, among other demographics.
Author(s): Kersten Bartelt, Emily Higgs, Louis Kazaglis, Eric Barkley
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Epic Research
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Analyzes the use of primary care telehealth over time using Epic Cosmos data. Includes graphs showing change in utilization from July 2024 to October 2025 by patient rurality, among other demographics.
Author(s): Kersten Bartelt, Emily Higgs, Louis Kazaglis, Eric Barkley
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Epic Research
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Health Care Access from the Rural Perspective: A Narrative Review
Examines rural healthcare access in the dimensions of geographic, temporal, financial, cultural, and virtual. Discusses rural versus urban access challenges and access disparities related to geographic distance and available transportation, broadband internet access and digital literacy, healthcare workforce shortages, and the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Peter Kaboli, Adam Blaine, Jasmine Mares, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70119
Date: 02/2026
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Examines rural healthcare access in the dimensions of geographic, temporal, financial, cultural, and virtual. Discusses rural versus urban access challenges and access disparities related to geographic distance and available transportation, broadband internet access and digital literacy, healthcare workforce shortages, and the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Peter Kaboli, Adam Blaine, Jasmine Mares, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70119
Date: 02/2026
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Rural-Serving Primary Care Practitioners' and Cardiologists' Care Adaptations for Cardiovascular Services: A Qualitative Analysis
Examines the cardiovascular services provided by rural-serving primary care practitioners and cardiologists. Utilizes interview feedback from 20 healthcare professionals and discusses rural cardiovascular services as related to interprofessional collaboration, expanded scope of practice, altered care, care adaptations, and more.
Author(s): Susan G. Miller, Signe Burchim, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70129
Date: 02/2026
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Examines the cardiovascular services provided by rural-serving primary care practitioners and cardiologists. Utilizes interview feedback from 20 healthcare professionals and discusses rural cardiovascular services as related to interprofessional collaboration, expanded scope of practice, altered care, care adaptations, and more.
Author(s): Susan G. Miller, Signe Burchim, Kristin Beima-Sofie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70129
Date: 02/2026
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How Local Food Policy Councils Can Strengthen Summer Meal Programs
Profiles the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium's (GC3) Food and Hunger Alliance in South Carolina, a Local Food Policy Council (LFPC) focused on improving food systems and providing non-congregate meal options for rural families and children. Discusses the purpose and impact of LFPCs and their role in addressing food insecurity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Profiles the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium's (GC3) Food and Hunger Alliance in South Carolina, a Local Food Policy Council (LFPC) focused on improving food systems and providing non-congregate meal options for rural families and children. Discusses the purpose and impact of LFPCs and their role in addressing food insecurity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Visual Impairment and Blindness among Illinoisans, Metro vs. Nonmetro
Examines visual impairment in Illinois utilizing data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2024 Area Health Resources File. Provides data breakdowns of visual impairment prevalence by county as well as a comparison of metro versus nonmetro availability of optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines visual impairment in Illinois utilizing data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2024 Area Health Resources File. Provides data breakdowns of visual impairment prevalence by county as well as a comparison of metro versus nonmetro availability of optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Perspectives on Universal Free School Meals Among Rural Middle and High School Students: A Mixed-Methods Study
Examines perspectives on Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) among students living in rural Maine. Utilizes survey and interview data among middle and high school students to analyze student characteristics, meal preferences, and perceptions of school breakfasts and lunches.
Author(s): Ashley Kesack, Michele Polacsek, Alexis Schneider, Juliana F. W. Cohen
Citation: Nutrients, 18(3), 540
Date: 02/2026
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Examines perspectives on Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) among students living in rural Maine. Utilizes survey and interview data among middle and high school students to analyze student characteristics, meal preferences, and perceptions of school breakfasts and lunches.
Author(s): Ashley Kesack, Michele Polacsek, Alexis Schneider, Juliana F. W. Cohen
Citation: Nutrients, 18(3), 540
Date: 02/2026
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Availability of Higher-Level Neonatal Care in Rural and Urban US Hospitals, 2010-2022
A research letter that discusses the availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban hospitals. Analyzes changes in intermediate or intensive neonatal care availability between 2010 and 2022 in 3,257 U.S. birth hospitals according to rurality.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Clara E. Busse, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2559680
Date: 02/2026
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A research letter that discusses the availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban hospitals. Analyzes changes in intermediate or intensive neonatal care availability between 2010 and 2022 in 3,257 U.S. birth hospitals according to rurality.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Clara E. Busse, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(2), e2559680
Date: 02/2026
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Launching Rural Health Transformation Plans: Lessons from Other Large-Scale State Initiatives
Discusses state implementation of Rural Health Transformation Plans (RHTPs) and provides recommendations to assist states in creating appropriate administrative infrastructure to implement their RHTPs. Focuses on governance; stakeholder engagement and communications; budget tracking, reporting, and contracting; and data and evaluation.
Author(s): Tricia McGinnis, Rob Houston
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Discusses state implementation of Rural Health Transformation Plans (RHTPs) and provides recommendations to assist states in creating appropriate administrative infrastructure to implement their RHTPs. Focuses on governance; stakeholder engagement and communications; budget tracking, reporting, and contracting; and data and evaluation.
Author(s): Tricia McGinnis, Rob Houston
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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REH Learning Brief: Obstetric Care in Rural Emergency Hospitals
Describes how three Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) approach delivering obstetric-related care. Discusses challenges to providing obstetric services each facility faced prior to their conversion to REH status, and strategies implemented under the REH designation. Identifies common strategies these facilities take to support obstetric care without traditional labor and delivery services.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Candice Talkington, Annette Schnabel, et al.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Describes how three Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) approach delivering obstetric-related care. Discusses challenges to providing obstetric services each facility faced prior to their conversion to REH status, and strategies implemented under the REH designation. Identifies common strategies these facilities take to support obstetric care without traditional labor and delivery services.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Candice Talkington, Annette Schnabel, et al.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Factors Associated with High vs. Low Implementation of Medicare's Chronic Care Management Programme in Wyoming Primary Care Practices
Identifies factors associated with rural primary care practices' participation in the Medicare Chronic Care Management (CCM) program, using interview data of 13 healthcare professionals at 6 sites in Wyoming. Compares characteristics of high and low implementation sites, including discussion of healthcare team communication, evaluation, leadership, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Punke, Lucas A. Wall, Christine L. McKibbin, et al.
Citation: Primary Health Care Research & Development, 27, e19
Date: 02/2026
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Identifies factors associated with rural primary care practices' participation in the Medicare Chronic Care Management (CCM) program, using interview data of 13 healthcare professionals at 6 sites in Wyoming. Compares characteristics of high and low implementation sites, including discussion of healthcare team communication, evaluation, leadership, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Punke, Lucas A. Wall, Christine L. McKibbin, et al.
Citation: Primary Health Care Research & Development, 27, e19
Date: 02/2026
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