Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Variations in Obesity Rates between US Counties: Impacts of Activity Access, Food Environments, and Settlement Patterns
Describes differences in obesity rates among U.S. counties based on rurality, region, poverty level, and ethnicity. Analyzes access to physical activity facilities, food environments, and settlement patterns, defined as residential density and car dependence, to determine potential explanations for geographic variations.
Author(s): Peter Congdon
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9), 1023
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Population-Based Geographic Access to Parent and Satellite National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Facilities
Examines geographic access to National Cancer Institute cancer centers with breakdowns by age group, race/ethnicity, education level, income level, and rurality. Discusses differences for rural populations and Native Americans.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Jennifer Alford-Teaster, Fahui Wang
Citation: Cancer, 123(17), 3305-3311
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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The Effects of Multiple Chronic Conditions on Adult Patient Readmissions and Hospital Finances
Reports on a study of the financial impact of patients hospitalized with multiple chronic conditions on a regional hospital serving rural Virginia. Focuses on total margin per admission, readmission rates, and the number of clinical conditions per patient. Identifies differences in hospital margin for patients with different chronic conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Discusses the potential return on investment for preventing admissions and readmissions.
Author(s): Michael Mihailoff, Shreyasi Deb, James A. Lee, Joanne Lynn
Citation: Inquiry, 54, 1-6
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Physician Supply Key to Oklahoma's Health and Wealth: Recommendations for Physician Training, Recruitment, Retention Strategies
Provides an overview of the physician shortage in Oklahoma. Discusses its impacts on population health and the economy, issues contributing to the shortage, and difficulty recruiting and retaining physicians, particularly in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to help improve physician supply, including funding for rural training tracks, loan repayment programs, building data collection capacity, and identifying factors to help low-volume rural practices succeed.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development, Healthcare Workforce Subcommittee
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Promising Practice: Rural Health Summits Bringing People Together Across Vermont to Exchange Ideas
Describes how the Vermont State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (VT SORH/PC) and leaders from rural hospitals and local public health districts in Vermont co-convened several Rural Health Summits held around the state to discuss ways to share resources, information, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Using Telehealth to Identify and Manage Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Conditions in Rural Areas
Reports on an environmental scan, discussions with providers and stakeholders, and site visits regarding how telehealth supports behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. Addresses how telehealth is used, implementation, services offered, financing and sustainability. Focuses on the implications for treating opioid use disorders in rural areas, in particular, using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with support from telehealth. Appendix B includes site briefs from the 9 states included in the study.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Addressing Rural Health Challenges Head On
Describes challenges physicians encounter when practicing in rural and underserved areas of Missouri. Covers multiple issues including health professional shortages, limits of rural training opportunities, population health challenges, rural Missouri demographics, and more.
Author(s): Marci Nielsen, Darrin D'Agostino, Paula Gregory
Citation: Missouri Medicine, 114(5), 363-366
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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A Prospective Study of Cancer Risk among Agricultural Health Study Farm Spouses Associated with Personal Use of Organochlorine Insecticides
Highlights an investigation into the health effects of exposure to organochlorine pesticides for farmers and their spouses. Draws data from the Agricultural Health Study, which surveys agricultural workers in Iowa and North Carolina.
Author(s): Lydia M. Louis, Catherine C. Lerro, Melissa C. Friesen, et al.
Citation: Environmental Health, 16(1), 95
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Indian Health Service Programs – A Retention Analysis: Final Report
Examines retention of Indian Health Service Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program participants after their service, whether it varies by provider type, facility characteristics, and more. Compares retention for IHS programs to National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program retention.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, The Lewin Group, Inc.
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Rural Veterans' Dental Utilization, BRFSS, 2014
Highlight study on the dental utilization rates for rural veterans. Explores whether the rural veterans are more likely to experience negative oral health outcomes, such as missing teeth. Breaks down data by age, race, educational attainment, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): R. Constance Wiener, Chan Shen, Usha Sambamoorthi, Patricia A. Findley
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 77(4), 383-392
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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