Community Vitality and Rural Healthcare – Resources

Estimate the Annual Economic Impact of an Independent Rural Health Clinic
Study featuring two scenarios, the first exploring average economic employment and labor income impacts of an independent rural health clinic, and the second looking at the same scenario without direct physician employment.
Author(s): Fred C. Eilrich, Gerald A. Doeksen, Cheryl F. St. Clair
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Rural Health Works
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Vulnerable Rural Counties: The Changing Rural Landscape, 2000-2010
Examined how rural counties were impacted by the 2008 recession, specifically focused on an increase in poverty levels, shifts in population, and loss or reduction of healthcare services and facilities. Includes county-by-county maps with data such as poverty and unemployment rates, elderly population, educational level, non-White population, health insurance coverage, availability of primary care and other specialties, and change in number of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Appendices include tables comparing urban and rural/remote county statistics.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Kevin J. Bennett, Yu-Hsiu Lin, Matthew Yuen, Deshia Leonhirth, Janice C. Probst
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit
Presents a guide for rural communities interested in constructing a new community facility project. Toolkit corresponds with the USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities programs.
Date: 01/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Rural Economic Development
Policy brief identifying the critical elements for addressing quality of life challenges faced by rural communities. Covers four areas: community development, a diversified economic development plan, educational opportunities, and healthcare workforce development.
Author(s): Alison F. Davis
Date: 02/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Cultivating a Competitive Advantage: How Rural Counties Are Growing Economies with Local Assets and Regional Partners
Case studies of rural counties using creative methods to improve their economies. Includes examples that involve the healthcare sector and address issues that impact health.
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Models to Estimate the Economic Impact of a Rural Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
Discusses the advantages of using nurse practitioners and physician assistants for the provision of primary care services to meet the workforce challenges in rural settings and how they contribute economically to the community.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Fred C. Eilrich, Gerald A. Doeksen, Cheryl F. St. Clair
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Rural Health Works
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Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities: Strategies for Advancing Smart Growth, Environmental Justice, and Equitable Development
Identifies strategies that tribal areas, rural communities, suburbs and cities can use to build healthy, sustainable, and inclusive communities. Strategies involve culture, public health, infrastructure, economics, housing, transportation, and schools.
Author(s): Megan McConville, Heather Case, Susan Conbere, et al.
Date: 02/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Regional Resilience: Research and Policy Brief
Summarizes research on disaster resiliency. Provides a framework for assessing current policy and practice as it relates to regional resilience. Includes rural areas.
Author(s): Brian Dabson, Colleen M. Heflin, Kathleen K. Miller
Date: 02/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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The Dynamics of Sustainability: A Primer for Rural Health Organizations
Provides information and case studies on sustainability for rural organizations that are starting new programs. The case studies were identified from a study of rural health organizations that received funding from the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP).
Date: 02/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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USDA Rural Health
Provides U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development resources supporting health and the development of healthy communities. Includes programs, funding, and tools dedicated to broadband access, infrastructure development, housing, medical facilities, mental health and substance use treatment, and more.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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