Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Travel Time to Delivery Facilities for Arkansas Mothers
Infographic on travel times to maternal care services in Arkansas and the impact of labor and delivery unit closures on access to care. Includes comparisons between 2019 and 2024 at the state level, and provides data on median minutes traveled to delivery facilities by county.
Author(s): Jennifer Wessel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Infographic on travel times to maternal care services in Arkansas and the impact of labor and delivery unit closures on access to care. Includes comparisons between 2019 and 2024 at the state level, and provides data on median minutes traveled to delivery facilities by county.
Author(s): Jennifer Wessel
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Rural–Urban Disparities in Acute Pancreatitis Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study using the National Inpatient Sample (2016–2021)
Compares rural and urban acute pancreatitis hospitalization costs, mortality, length of stay, complications, and other healthcare outcomes, using 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data.
Author(s): Fatima Rashid, Kasim Syed Jafri, Niloy Ghosh, et al.
Citation: Medicine, 105(23), e49138
Date: 06/2026
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Compares rural and urban acute pancreatitis hospitalization costs, mortality, length of stay, complications, and other healthcare outcomes, using 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample data.
Author(s): Fatima Rashid, Kasim Syed Jafri, Niloy Ghosh, et al.
Citation: Medicine, 105(23), e49138
Date: 06/2026
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Hierarchical Bayesian Analysis of Prehospital Timelines for Elderly Adults in Rural and Urban Motor-Vehicle Crashes
Analyzes emergency medical services (EMS) response and prehospital timelines for older adults involved in vehicle crashes in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes 2018-2023 crash data from Ohio and examines rural versus urban characteristics of crashes, prehospital time, and distance traveled.
Author(s): Philip F. Balyagati, Abdul S. Ngereza, Emmanuel Kidando, et al.
Citation: Journal of Safety Research, 97, 453-462
Date: 06/2026
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Analyzes emergency medical services (EMS) response and prehospital timelines for older adults involved in vehicle crashes in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes 2018-2023 crash data from Ohio and examines rural versus urban characteristics of crashes, prehospital time, and distance traveled.
Author(s): Philip F. Balyagati, Abdul S. Ngereza, Emmanuel Kidando, et al.
Citation: Journal of Safety Research, 97, 453-462
Date: 06/2026
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Drug Use and Social Connectivity Related to Hepatitis C Infection Among Rural People Who Use Drugs
Presents a study on the levels of social connectivity of rural people who use drugs (PWUDs) that correlate hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity. Explores data by demographic characteristics, and measurements of social connectivity, such as currently seeing a primary care provider, past substance use treatment, and access to transportation, among other measures.
Author(s): Alex Rains, Ellen Almirol, William Nicholson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 33(7), e70200
Date: 06/2026
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Presents a study on the levels of social connectivity of rural people who use drugs (PWUDs) that correlate hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity. Explores data by demographic characteristics, and measurements of social connectivity, such as currently seeing a primary care provider, past substance use treatment, and access to transportation, among other measures.
Author(s): Alex Rains, Ellen Almirol, William Nicholson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 33(7), e70200
Date: 06/2026
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Assessing Homeowner Perspectives and Barriers to Maintenance of On-Lot Septic Systems in Rural Pennsylvania
Results of a study surveying septic system users in Pennsylvania in 2024 and 2025 to assess whether residents follow current maintenance guidelines, to examine barriers and needs for proper maintenance, and to evaluate water contaminants in private water sources. Features statistics including age of systems, pumping frequency, and contaminant detection frequencies of water samples, including drinking water.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Faith A. Kibuye, Andy Yencha, Susan Boser
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of a study surveying septic system users in Pennsylvania in 2024 and 2025 to assess whether residents follow current maintenance guidelines, to examine barriers and needs for proper maintenance, and to evaluate water contaminants in private water sources. Features statistics including age of systems, pumping frequency, and contaminant detection frequencies of water samples, including drinking water.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Faith A. Kibuye, Andy Yencha, Susan Boser
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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A Comparative Analysis of Job Satisfaction and Intent to Leave Among Rural and Urban Caseworkers in Pennsylvania's Child Welfare Agencies
Findings from a survey of Pennsylvania child welfare caseworkers, identifying factors influencing job satisfaction, performance, and intent to leave. Recommends changes at the agency level and state-level policy changes related to child welfare caseworker workload, salaries, and funding. Features statistics including staff turnover from 2019-2023 with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and reported cases of child abuse in 2023 with breakdowns by county.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Yoon Mi Kim, George Kovarie, Soohyoung Rain Lee
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Findings from a survey of Pennsylvania child welfare caseworkers, identifying factors influencing job satisfaction, performance, and intent to leave. Recommends changes at the agency level and state-level policy changes related to child welfare caseworker workload, salaries, and funding. Features statistics including staff turnover from 2019-2023 with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and reported cases of child abuse in 2023 with breakdowns by county.
Additional links: Legislative Brief
Author(s): Yoon Mi Kim, George Kovarie, Soohyoung Rain Lee
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Tailoring the Relational Playbook for Cardiology Teams to the Rural Hospital Medicine Setting: A Multi-Method Pre-Implementation Evaluation
Examines the process of making the Relational Playbook for Cardiology Teams leadership program within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for rural healthcare settings. Utilizes data from site visits with 3 VA hospitals serving rural veterans and discusses perspectives from clinical leaders regarding barriers and strategies to implementing the program.
Author(s): Heather M. Gilmartin, Paige Perry, Brigid Connelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70165
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the process of making the Relational Playbook for Cardiology Teams leadership program within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for rural healthcare settings. Utilizes data from site visits with 3 VA hospitals serving rural veterans and discusses perspectives from clinical leaders regarding barriers and strategies to implementing the program.
Author(s): Heather M. Gilmartin, Paige Perry, Brigid Connelly, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70165
Date: 06/2026
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2026
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers payment incentives in Medicare, the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions for beneficiaries, Medicare payment operations and their role in identifying improper payments, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, and access to hospice and certain complex palliative services for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer. Includes a mandated report regarding the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers payment incentives in Medicare, the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions for beneficiaries, Medicare payment operations and their role in identifying improper payments, the estimated association between Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and hospitals' and post-acute care providers' finances, and access to hospice and certain complex palliative services for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer. Includes a mandated report regarding the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Local Facilitators Lead the Way in Stigma Reduction
Discusses how rural community members have led Community Conversations on Opioid Use Disorder workshops addressing substance use disorder stigma via training from the UR Medicine Recovery Center for Excellence. Highlights impacts of the Community Conversations series and strategies for effective training and collaboration.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence
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Discusses how rural community members have led Community Conversations on Opioid Use Disorder workshops addressing substance use disorder stigma via training from the UR Medicine Recovery Center for Excellence. Highlights impacts of the Community Conversations series and strategies for effective training and collaboration.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Rochester Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence
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Highlights from 2026 U.S. Cancer Statistics
Highlights age-adjusted data on cancer incidence using U.S. Cancer Statistics data. Includes rural-urban comparisons, including rural and urban cancer incidence breakdowns by demographic group.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Highlights age-adjusted data on cancer incidence using U.S. Cancer Statistics data. Includes rural-urban comparisons, including rural and urban cancer incidence breakdowns by demographic group.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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