Rural Health

Data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties.

This article examines perceived job preparedness by demographic and professional characteristics among practicing registered nurses who completed a national survey. Rural and male nurses felt less prepared for nursing practice and may benefit from tailored educational experiences to improve perceptions of being prepared for the workforce.

A study of cancer and other health outcomes in a cohort of licensed pesticide applicators and their spouses. The study began in 1993 and has had over 89,000 participants.

This biannually-updated atlas provides information on people, jobs, and county classifications for rural America, including socioeconomic indicators, employment trends, income, rural-urban continuum, economic dependence, child poverty, and more.

Regularly updated briefs and an interactive map of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of the US.

ERS produces and maintains a number of data sets that are used by policymakers and researchers to identify and describe rural and urban areas.

A crosswalk of ZIP Codes identifying the set of Non-Metro Counties and rural Census Tracts (CTs) that comprise rural areas as defined by FORHP.

Charts show total revenues generated by each hospital, their net profit or loss and their profit margins for the fiscal years 2011 through 2017.

Access to sites provides rural health statistics and data.

HSRR is a searchable database of information about research datasets, instruments/indices and software employed in Health Services Research, the Behavioral and Social Sciences and Public Health. The database includes brief descriptions of research resources and links to PubMed.

A timely, multidimensional view of poverty-related need based on Salvation Army and federal data on meal assistance, housing assistance, and more.

The Market Saturation and Utilization Data Tool includes an interactive map and a data set that shows national-, state-, and county-level provider services and utilization data for selected health service areas.

This survey examines the physical and emotional health of children ages 0-17 years of age. Special emphasis is placed on factors that may relate to the well-being of children, including medical homes, family interactions, parental health, school and after-school experiences, and safe neighborhoods.

Maps on all aspects of rural health care.

An interactive map to learn about, access or replicate actions rural leaders are taking in small towns across the country to address the opioid epidemic through prevention, treatment and recovery opportunities.

The report looks primarily at adult and child poverty levels in rural areas.

A USDA report that provides recent socioeconomic indicators in rural areas, including employment, population, poverty, and income trends.

RHIhub's Rural Data Visualization section provides access to a range of tools to explore issues that impact rural health. The visualizations are based on data from federal and other publicly available data sources, and illustrate that data in a variety of formats to show how rural areas compare. Data is also available for download.

Links to general rural health resources as well as informational topic pages on specific rural health issues. Includes data, best practices, and case studies.

This chartbook presents statistical data on population demographics, health risk factors, age-specific and cause-specific mortality, access to care, health insurancecoverage, and mental health for urban and rural populations.

This study examines state- and county-level data on population, age, race and ethnicity, housing occupancy and housing tenure, education, labor force, employment and unemployment, income and poverty, health insurance coverage, disability status, migration patterns, and veteran status from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS) for the 13 Appalachian states.

This report looks at the many factors, including incomes that did not rise with economic expansion, that contributed to a 6.6% rise in rural child poverty.

Use the Rural Health Value Team's comprehensive Value-Based Care Strategic Planning Tool (VBC Tool) to assess 121 different value-based care capacities in eight categories. After completion, users receive a Value-Based Care Readiness Report that can be used to assess an organization's readiness for value-based care and to develop value-based care action plans.

This toolkit is designed to assist researchers in reaching their target audiences through the development of appropriate, timely, accessible, and applicable products.

his guide and toolkit offers strategies and resources to help critical access hospital staff organize and support efforts to implement best practices for quality improvement,

Designed for rural hospitals, this toolkit discusses the benefits of health IT and helps hospitals to take the first step toward implementation and attaining meaningful use.

Toolkit is designed to help rural communities identify and implement a care coordination program. It also provides links to resources and best practices.

The toolkit is designed to help organizations identify and implement a health promotion program. It also provides resources and best practices for rural communities. The toolkit is made up of several modules. Each concentrates on different aspects of health promotion and disease prevention programs.

This toolkit identifies evidence-based and promising models and resources that will benefit rural communities seeking to implement services integration programs.

This toolkit compiles promising models and resources to support organizations implementing transportation programs in rural communities across the United States.

Site provides information on hiring grant writing consultants, considerations before applying, creating an evaluation plan, and more.

The COVID-19 Telehealth Program will provide $200 million in funding, appropriated by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to help health care providers provide connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the novel Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program provides a 65% discount on eligible broadband connectivity expenses for eligible rural health care providers.

Initiative provides financial and technical assistance to eligible healthy food retail projects across the country. HFFI aims to provide financial resources and expertise necessary to expand access to healthy foods in underserved areas, to create and preserve quality jobs, and to revitalize low-income communities.

Microsearch is a community-based research approach that supports, with small “seed grant” funding, locally generated and implemented projects leading to local solutions to problems in underserved communities, resulting in big impact.

The NOSORH Mentoring Program is an opportunity for new SORH Directors to participate in a mentoring experience with veteran SORH leaders from across the country. The experience is intended to last approximately six (6) months, engaging the mentor and mentee in identifying and achieving professional development goals.

The Rural Health Fellows program is a yearlong, intensive training program that develops leaders who can articulate a clear and compelling vision for rural America.

The goal of RCORP-Implementation is to advance RCORP's overall goal by strengthening and expanding SUD/OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services to enhance rural residents' ability to access treatment and move towards recovery.

Summaries of funding programs provided by RAC.

Health care providers who are located in geographic areas that are defined as Rural are eligible to apply for Rural Health Grants

The Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program is designed to demonstrate improved access to, and continuity of, maternal and obstetrics care in rural communities

The purpose of this RFA is to solicit applications to develop, adapt, and test individual-, community- or multilevel interventions to address modifiable risk factors for cancer in rural populations.

The primary objective of the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant program is to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers.

The Telecommunications (Telecom) Program provides reduced rates to rural health care providers (HCPs) for telecommunications and voice services for the use of telemedicine and telehealth.

Recordings from a June 2019 forum to provide an overview of the state of maternal healthcare in rural communities, with a focus on access to maternal health services before, during, and after pregnancy.

A roundtable discussion held on Monday, February 22, 2016.

Recorded videos from a June 2017 workshop on health equity and well-being for rural populations.

A May 2016 webinar from the Altarum Institute that discussed rural childrens' health, mortality, trends, and challenges.

At a June 2019 briefing hosted by Research!America, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, National Rural Health Association, and American Heart Association, speakers discuss the value that patient-centered research delivers to people living in rural areas. Panelists covered the unique healthcare delivery needs and challenges of those living in rural areas and how patient-centered, community-based programs are working to address them.

Each year the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and its partners set aside the third Thursday of November to celebrate National Rural Health Day (NRHD). NRHD is an opportunity to "Celebrate the Power of Rural."

Upcoming and archived Twitter chats on issues important to rural health.

RHLR's mission is to provide a forum to have conversations with rural health leaders to discuss and share ideas about what is working, what is not working, lessons learned, success stories, strategies, things to avoid and anything else listeners want to talk and hear about.

A biweekly, 30-minute podcast about rural education, business, and health. The podcast's mission is to increase awareness, inform discussion, and expand the dialogue on the most important issues facing rural stakeholders every day. Guests on the podcast include rural education decision-makers, rural business owners and entrepreneurs, and rural health care representatives. (National Rural Education Association and the Center for Rural Affairs)

Rural PREP Grand Rounds occur up to eight times yearly (in August, September, October, November, January, February, March, and April) on topics relevant to rural health and practice.

This video series highlights programs featured in RHIhub's Rural Health Models and Innovations and Rural Monitor newsletter. Each video brings to life the mission and service of these programs through visual narratives.

During this June 2018 webinar Tom Morris with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and researchers from the oldest and newest Rural Health Research Centers spoke to the history and future of rural health research.

This video series highlights key moments and developments in recent rural health history in the United States. Hear first-person accounts explaining the issues and how solutions came to be.

Originally aired on September 29, 2016, this webinar looks at the role of rural health networks in the future of alternative payment models, population health and the influence of social determinants on health outcomes.

The Rural Health Voice is the podcast of the Virginia Rural Health Association. Leaders at the local, state, and national level are interviewed on their perspective of current rural health issues.

July 13-14, 2021; TBA.

September 14-15, 2021; Bozeman, MT. National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network Annual Conference.

October 24-27, 2021; Charleston, SC.

Webinar series focuses on opioid use prevention, capacity building, technology use, public health knowledge, and health literacy in rural counties.

Report analyzes trends in rural hospital financial viability, community essentiality, and patient outmigration.

Report summarizes a June 2019 forum focused on (1) the current state of rural maternal healthcare in the United States, (2) the advancement of systems of maternal healthcare in rural America, and (3) the improvement of policies that impact rural maternal health.

The intent of this toolkit is to provide rural communities with the information, strategies, resources, and other important materials that could be helpful in implementing a program to improve access to care for people with disabilities.

This study locates agricultural health programs and courses and describes collaborations that exist between clinicians and agriculture-related agencies.

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, the National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) continues to strive in providing the most up-to-date and relevant tools and resources for rural clinics, hospitals, and their communities.

This catalog summarizes value-based programs from CMS and CMMI that are relevant to rural health care providers and populations.

Reports and chartbooks on rural health issues including Access to Care, Behavioral Health, Diabetes, Health Care Services, Maternal/ Perinatal Health, Child and Adolescent Health, Older Americans, Oral Health, Uninsured, and Border Health.

This guide from the Rural Assistance Center provides an overview of rural health research, needs assessments, and program evaluation, with tools and resources to support these activities.

The overall objective of the Journal of Appalachian Health (JAH) is to improve the health status of the population of Appalachia through the rapid dissemination of knowledge of their health problems and evidence-based solutions to them. JAH will provide actionable knowledge through an online, open access, easily accessible peer-reviewed process focused specifically on Appalachia.

Starting in 2017, this series of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) surveillance summaries highlights rural health issues and topics.

This series of policy briefs explores the range of elements that influence rural health, with special emphasis on the unique challenges and innovative solutions emerging in rural communities.

The toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing mental health programs in rural communities across the United States, with a primary focus on adult mental health.

NRHA has compiled free COVID-19 resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and other reputable organizations.

NRHA’s Rural COVID-19 Technical Assistance Center has been created with the support of CoBank to provide strategic steps that will lend support and address the needs of rural health care providers and organizations. NRHA will assess and triage needs from across the country, to ensure that rural communities are equipped with the necessary knowledge, connections, and resources throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

This chartbook contains: an overview of the Quality and Disparities Reports (QDR), an overview of residents of rural areas, one of the priority populations of the QDR, summary of trends in health care quality and disparities for rural populations, and tracking of access and quality measures for rural populations.

Publications from the NC Rural Health Research Center examine various aspects of health disparities affecting rural populations.

Brief highlights trends in net migration, population demographics, urban-rural gaps in employment, rural poverty, and rural aging.

This toolkit presents practical strategies that can help rural communities build successful community paramedicine programs. In particular, it focuses on existing programs that have successfully provided rural community paramedicine services. It also offers guidance for implementation, evaluation, dissemination, and sustainability.

The Rural Community Toolbox helps you can find resources to address substance use disorder (SUD) and the opioid crisis.

Find a variety of briefs from the Economic Research Service at the USDA, including Rural Wealth Creation, Health Status and Health Care Access of Farm and Rural Populations, etc.

This webpage has assembled a selection of links concerning rural emergency preparedness and response.

This toolkit aims to assist researchers with step four in the knowledge translation process, reaching their target audiences. By developing appropriate, timely, accessible, and applicable products, researchers have the opportunity to inform step five, a change in policy or practice. This toolkit provides descriptions for multiple modes of dissemination and includes discussion of the purpose of each product, which product is appropriate given the topic and audience, and how to develop each. Effective examples are also provided.

Research, briefs, and reports related to rural health and rural health policy.

Rural Health Quarterly (RHQ) is a national rural health news magazine published by the F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural and Community Health and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

A list of training and technical assistance opportunities related to rural health.

This collection shares key resources, research and emerging insights into the many factors that shape rural health in America.

Rural Healthy People 2020's goal is to serve as a counterpart to Healthy People 2020, providing evidence of rural stakeholders' assessment of rural health priorities and allowing national and state rural stakeholders to reflect on and measure progress in meeting those goals. The specific aim of the Rural Healthy People 2020 national survey was to identify rural health priorities from among the Healthy People 2020's national priorities.

Compendium of all Rural Opioid Educational Resources available across the NOSORH website to aid individuals looking for education, tools, and other resources. This includes reports, webinar presentations, meeting presentations, and a compendium of resources and lessons learned from grantees of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Opioid Overdose Reversal (ROOR) grant program.

This toolkit presents practical strategies that can help rural communities build successful partnerships with philanthropies..

This guide will help you learn about activities underway to address the opioid crisis in rural communities at the national, state, and local levels across the country. It identifies: initiatives and funding opportunities; rural program examples; and tools and resources focused on prevention, harm reduction, and treatment.

The toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing suicide prevention programs in rural communities across the United States.

The toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations in identifying and implementing telehealth programs to address common challenges experienced in rural communities across the United States.

This systematic literature review examines the evidence regarding potential disparities between rural and urban areas in health care provision and delivery, and how differences in health care may contribute to disparities in health outcomes.

Policy brief provides recommendations on how HHS can best address the social determinants of health in rural communities.

A topic page from Rural Health Information Hub on the social determinants for rural health, includes publications, information, and resources.

This toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing programs to address social determinants of health in rural communities across the United States.

This study looks at the potentials for fewer available primary care physicians, especially in areas with lower population density and lower socioeconomic status.

In a workshop held August 8-9, 2012, the use of telemedicine as a means to extend quality healthcare to isolated areas of the country was investigated.

This annual study explores the many factors negatively impacting rural provider sustainability while also examining lessons to learn from those facilities demonstrating the value of rural. Download requires free registration. (iVantage Health Analytics)

A brief module designed to acquaint rural health care teams on the issues regarding the social determinants of health.

A report from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps that discusses how to create healthier rural communities.

Rural America is suffering from a health care crisis, a product of inadequate funding, economic downturn and lack of an appropriate health care workforce. In response, the AAFP has launched Rural Health Matters, an Academy-wide strategic initiative to improve health care in rural communities.

The CDC's Rural Health portal provides basic information, data, resources, public health programs, policy options, and success stories.

Through the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model, CMS aims to continue addressing disparities by providing a way for rural communities to transform their health care delivery systems by leveraging innovative financial arrangements as well as operational and regulatory flexibilities.

CMS is taking measureable steps toward improving access to health care for rural populations, including forming a council of experts tasked with addressing rural health issues, engaging stakeholders in rural communities, and partnering with health organizations to raise awareness.

The mission of USDA's Economic Research Service is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America and to conduct high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making. Research topics include agriculture, food and nutrition, food safety, global markets, resources and environment, and rural economy.

Promotes better health care service in rural America.

The Flex Monitoring Team is a consortium of the Rural Health Research Centers at the Universities of Minnesota, North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Southern Maine, funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to evaluate the impact of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (the Flex Program).

The MAP Rural Health Workgroup, with oversight from the MAP Coordinating Committee, will provide recommendations on issues related to measurement challenges in the rural population. Additionally, the Workgroup will identify a core set of the best available (i.e., "rural relevant") measures and identify rural-relevant gaps in measurement.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) was established in 1995 to assist State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) in their efforts to improve access to, and the quality of, health care for America's 61 million rural citizens.

The National Rural Health Information Technology (HIT) Coalition is an informal network of rural and HIT leaders from organizations at every level, working together to advance the implementation of HIT across rural America.

National nonprofit membership organization with more than 18,000 members. The association's mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues.

The National Rural Health Resource Center provides technical assistance, information, tools and resources for the improvement of rural health care. It serves as a national rural health knowledge center and strives to build state and local capacity.

Conducts, coordinates, promotes, and disseminates studies and analyses into issues affecting Veterans living in rural and highly rural areas, in cooperation with the medical, rehabilitation, health services and cooperative studies research programs.

Rural Health Information Hub (Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub)) is a national resource on rural health and human services information. The Website offers online library, coverage of rural issues, state guides, toolkits, program models, and more. Provides customized assistance by phone or email. Funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) currently funds eight rural health research centers and three rural health policy analysis initiatives. The Gateway provides access to research and findings of the FORHP-funded Rural Health Research Centers,

Federal program that is dedicated entirely to producing policy-relevant research on health care in rural areas. Initiated in 1988, it is administered by the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Collaborative for Rural Primary care Practice, Research, Education and Practice (Rural PREP) project's mission is to improve and sustain rural health through community engagement and research in primary care health professions education.

Provides unbiased analysis and information on the challenges, needs, and opportunities facing rural America.

A nationally funded and recognized center established more than a decade ago to address the needs of rural and underserved populations across Texas and the nation. The SRHRC comprises a unique combination of faculty expertise in health policy, health economics, aging, long-term care, health law, epidemiology and biostatistics, and chronic disease.

Provides services for rural communities, local officials, organizations, businesses and rural citizens working to maintain the vitality of America's rural areas.