Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Effect of Health Literacy on use of a Virtual Coach to Promote Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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Examines health literacy and utilization of a virtual coaching agent to support hypertension management in rural residents. Utilizes data from 59 participants in rural Pennsylvania to monitor frequency of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings and the impact of virtual coaching for HPBM in patients with low health literacy.
Author(s): Chinenye C. Odo, Andrew Mrkva, Erin Shepherd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 28(6), e70320
Date: 06/2026
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Telemedicine Use Among Office-Based Physicians in 2021 and 2024
Offers data showing trends in telehealth utilization by physicians, comparing 2021 and 2024. Includes a comparison between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs, among other factors.
Author(s): Kelly L. Myrick, Mohsin Mahar, Brian W. Ward
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers data showing trends in telehealth utilization by physicians, comparing 2021 and 2024. Includes a comparison between metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs, among other factors.
Author(s): Kelly L. Myrick, Mohsin Mahar, Brian W. Ward
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Transitions from First Drug Use to Illicit Opioid and Injection Drug Use in a Multisite Rural U.S. Cohort of People Who Use Drugs
Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
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Presents a study aiming to understand the transition from initial drug use to non-prescription opioid use and injection drug use among rural people who use non-prescription opioids. Bases finding on structured interviews of rural drug users in ten states describing their "first use" event and the transition to illicit opioid use.
Author(s): Rob J. Fredericksen, Adams Sibley, Kathryn E. Lancaster, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 23, 111
Date: 06/2026
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Rural Female Veterans' Experiences of VA Care and a VA Telehealth Outreach Program
Explores the experiences of rural veteran women utilizing the Veterans Affairs (VA) Care and the Boost Program, a VA telehealth outreach program. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews exploring the accessibility of female-specific healthcare provided by the VA and the efficacy of the Boost Program.
Author(s): Kara A. Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, Mariam Jacob, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 26, 316
Date: 06/2026
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Explores the experiences of rural veteran women utilizing the Veterans Affairs (VA) Care and the Boost Program, a VA telehealth outreach program. Bases findings on semi-structured interviews exploring the accessibility of female-specific healthcare provided by the VA and the efficacy of the Boost Program.
Author(s): Kara A. Zamora-Rogoski, Caitlin L. McLean, Mariam Jacob, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 26, 316
Date: 06/2026
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Building Rural Weather Resilience
Describes how Archuleta County Public Health and Pagosa Springs Community Center collaboratively addressed vulnerability to extreme weather in rural Colorado by developing community partnerships, implementing public health preparedness initiatives, and effective planning and assessment.
Author(s): Lacy Capre
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Describes how Archuleta County Public Health and Pagosa Springs Community Center collaboratively addressed vulnerability to extreme weather in rural Colorado by developing community partnerships, implementing public health preparedness initiatives, and effective planning and assessment.
Author(s): Lacy Capre
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Access to Interventional Psychiatry Treatments among VA Patients
Analyzes how access varies to interventional psychiatry treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and medication-assisted psychotherapy, among rural and urban veterans. Uses 2017-2023 VA electronic health record data of veterans with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses.
Author(s): Brian Shiner, Vincent DuFort, Tayla Peltzman, Bradley V. Watts
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health, 50(2), 75-85
Date: 06/2026
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Analyzes how access varies to interventional psychiatry treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and medication-assisted psychotherapy, among rural and urban veterans. Uses 2017-2023 VA electronic health record data of veterans with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses.
Author(s): Brian Shiner, Vincent DuFort, Tayla Peltzman, Bradley V. Watts
Citation: Journal of Rural Mental Health, 50(2), 75-85
Date: 06/2026
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Rural Water Infrastructure: Better Agency Coordination Could Help Unserved Communities Address Their Needs
Discusses issues related to rural water infrastructure, including what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know about rural communities not served by drinking water or wastewater utilities. Describes USDA and EPA programs that can provide financial and technical assistance to rural communities for water infrastructure, how the agencies prioritize these communities, and challenges rural unserved communities face in accessing financial and technical assistance from USDA and EPA. Offers recommendations to USDA and EPA regarding increasing access to water infrastructure funding and technical assistance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses issues related to rural water infrastructure, including what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know about rural communities not served by drinking water or wastewater utilities. Describes USDA and EPA programs that can provide financial and technical assistance to rural communities for water infrastructure, how the agencies prioritize these communities, and challenges rural unserved communities face in accessing financial and technical assistance from USDA and EPA. Offers recommendations to USDA and EPA regarding increasing access to water infrastructure funding and technical assistance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Making Rural Communities Visible in Artificial Intelligence Through Rural Proofing in Kansas and Beyond
Discusses issues related to rural underrepresentation in artificial intelligence-related health systems and details a rural-proofing policy framework for Kansas to ensure rural AI data collection, design, and governance are taken into account.
Author(s): Ziwei Qi, Tatiana Lin, Ayo Olagoke
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federation of American Scientists
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Discusses issues related to rural underrepresentation in artificial intelligence-related health systems and details a rural-proofing policy framework for Kansas to ensure rural AI data collection, design, and governance are taken into account.
Author(s): Ziwei Qi, Tatiana Lin, Ayo Olagoke
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Federation of American Scientists
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VA Medical Facility Security: Actions Needed to Address Longstanding Risks
Discusses findings from the Government Accountability Office's work regarding security at Veterans Administration (VA) medical facilities between January 2013 and April 2026. Describes challenges related to the security of its facilities and actions that could help address those challenges. Compares crime rates at VA stations that serve majority urban and majority rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses findings from the Government Accountability Office's work regarding security at Veterans Administration (VA) medical facilities between January 2013 and April 2026. Describes challenges related to the security of its facilities and actions that could help address those challenges. Compares crime rates at VA stations that serve majority urban and majority rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Health-Related Social Needs as a Rural Health Transformation Strategy
Analyzes how state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) applications have planned to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) or non-medical drivers of health. Provides recommendations for implementing HRSN policies at the state level.
Author(s): Charles W. Mathias, Kathryn Jantz, Elena M. Marks, Carlos A. Cruz
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
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Analyzes how state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) applications have planned to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) or non-medical drivers of health. Provides recommendations for implementing HRSN policies at the state level.
Author(s): Charles W. Mathias, Kathryn Jantz, Elena M. Marks, Carlos A. Cruz
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
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