This study from the Southwest Rural Health Research Center finds that portions of rural America are possibly skilled nursing deserts, thus lacking the physical presence of facilities to provide post-acute skilled nursing care. Read more here.
Development of a National Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index in the United States: Differences by Region and Rurality
Researchers at the Rural and Minority Health Research Center identified community-level variables associated with healthy eating and physical activity for youth and ranked all counties to develop a childhood obesogenic environment index (COEI). The COEI can be applied to benchmark obesogenic environments and identify geographic disparities and intervention targets. Future research can examine associations with obesity and other health outcomes. Find more information here.
The Unique Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults in Rural Areas
The University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center identifies pre-existing rural/urban inequities related to health care capacity, economic security, access to technology, and social needs that amount to heightened risk of illness and isolation for many older adults in rural areas. Read more here.
AJPH Examines the Rural-Urban Gap in Health and Social Services
In a special issue released the week of July 16, the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) features a collection of 15 new studies demonstrating the connection between health and social services. The publication makes the case that these cross-sector connections have been slower to develop in rural communities than in urban. Read more here.
Telehealth Availability in US Hospitals in the Face of the COVID‐19 Pandemic
The Journal of Rural Health grants free access to this research policy brief that examines telehealth availability and readiness in U.S. hospitals. The variables examined include organizational factors, county population, geography, and census divisions.
Telehealth Availability in US Hospitals in the Face of the COVID‐19 Pandemic
The Journal of Rural Health grants free access to this research policy brief that examines telehealth availability and readiness in U.S. hospitals. The variables examined include organizational factors, county population, geography, and census divisions. Read the brief here.
ONC: Health Information Management at Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) leads the federal effort to support health information technology systems nationwide. For this report, ONC reviewed a survey conducted in 2017 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in which 13,585 U.S. substance abuse treatment centers were queried about their use of computers or electronic resources to store and exchange treatment records. Read the report here.
Latest National Rankings for Child Well-Being Show Pennsylvania at 20th
The 2020 edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, shows Pennsylvania ranks 20th for overall child well-being.
The report uses 16 indicators across four domains to rank each state. Pennsylvania now ranks 26th in the family and community domain, 23rd in economic well-being, 19th in health, and 7th in education.
Learn more about Pennsylvania’s rankings or get additional information on the Data Book here.
Healthy People 2020: Using Law and Policy to Promote the Use of Oral Health Services in the United States
Good oral health is essential to overall health and well-being, but oral health problems are common. More than 4 in 5 people have had at least one cavity by age 34, and more than 2 in 5 adults have had mouth pain in the past year.
And yet less than half of the population uses the oral health care system. Many common oral health problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and jaw disorders are preventable with regular oral care. But many people who need this care face barriers, which means they aren’t able to get the care they need.
This is a summary of the report, Oral Health: The Role of Law and Policy in Increasing the Use of Oral Health Services, which is the fifth in a series of reports that highlights the practical application of law and policy to improve health across the Nation. Each report also has success stories, or Bright Spots, that show how communities use laws and policies to meet their health goals and achieve Healthy People Oral Health targets.
This report presents evidence-based and promising law and policy solutions that community and tribal leaders, government officials, public health professionals, health care providers, lawyers, and social service providers can use in their own communities. These solutions focus on improving oral health care financing, strengthening the oral health workforce, and removing barriers to using oral health care services. Many of these solutions align with the Heathy People objective to increase the number of people who use the oral health care system.
New Rural Policy Brief Published on Telepharmacy Rules and Statutes
A new rural policy brief is available from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis:
Telepharmacy Rules and Statutes: A 3-Year Update for all 50 States
Jason Semprini, MPP; Fred Ullrich, BA; Keith Mueller, PhD
This policy brief analyzed administrative rules and legislative statutes governing each state’s pharmacy practice. Key features of telepharmacy regulations were investigated for comparative analysis. Twenty-one states currently authorize retail telepharmacy, but between these states the regulatory activity varies considerably.
Please click here to read the brief.