Date: February 24, 2022

Quality of Skilled Nursing Facilities and Home Health Agencies Serving Rural Medicare Beneficiaries

The Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho (WWAMI) Rural Health Research Center has released two new policy briefs on the quality of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health agencies (HHAs) serving rural Medicare beneficiaries.

Quality of Skilled Nursing Facilities Serving Rural Medicare Beneficiaries

While overall star ratings and staffing star ratings were not significantly associated with rural-serving status, rural SNFs and rural-serving urban SNFs were significantly less likely to have high quality star ratings compared to non-rural-serving urban SNFs. However, SNFs in isolated small rural communities were more likely to have high survey star ratings compared to non-rural-serving urban SNFs.

Quality of Home Health Agencies Serving Rural Medicare Beneficiaries

Rural-serving urban HHAs were almost twice as likely to have high patient experience star ratings compared to non-rural-serving urban HHAs. HHAs located in large, small, and isolated small rural communities were even more likely to have high patient experience star ratings compared to non-rural-serving urban HHAs, and the likelihood of high ratings increased as rurality increased.

Contact Information:

Tracy Mroz, PhD
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 206.598.5396
tmroz@uw.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More information about the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guides: Rural Healthcare Quality, Rural Home Health Services, Rural Health Disparities

Date: February 14, 2022

New Fact Sheets on Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Prevention in Rural Health Clinics in South Carolina

Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Prevention in Rural Health Clinics in South Carolina

Patients in rural areas undergo cancer screening less frequently than urban patients with corresponding higher cancer incidence and mortality. This study used a mixed methods design to investigate perceptions and practices regarding cervical and colorectal cancer prevention at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in South Carolina. Study results support the need for increased technical and material resources at RHCs to improve uptake of colorectal and cervical cancer screening.

Perceptions and Practices for Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control in Rural Health Clinics in South Carolina

Providers are aware of current cervical and colorectal cancer screening guidelines and follow recommendations based on patient need and guidance from multiple organizations. Providers reported both patient- and provider-level barriers to cancer screening. Additional technical and material resources (e.g., small media, navigation services, electronic health record report customization) should be provided to RHCs to enable the implementation of evidence-based interventions to improve uptake of cervical and colorectal cancer screening.

Contact Information:

Jan Eberth, PhD
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Phone: 803.576.7384
jmeberth@mailbox.sc.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More information about the Rural and Minority Health Research Center
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guide: Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)

Click to view Research Alert.

Date: February 7, 2022

Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress

Economic fluctuations and periods of distress in farming cannot be eliminated, however, their impact on communities and individuals can be mitigated by improving access to behavioral health and other support services.

The strategies offered here to support the development of systems and improved integration of services across health care and community-based organizations include (1) leveraging select payment systems and demonstrations to support coordinated care for families in distress, and (2) aligning grant programs from multiple federal agencies to address mental health and substance use disorders among farm families. Further, the existing rural health care infrastructure is inadequate to meet ongoing rural behavioral health needs, and has limited capacity to respond to surges in demand. The strategies included here that relate to expanding behavioral health services in rural settings are: (3) integrating primary and behavioral care to provide initial treatment of mental health and substance abuse concerns, (4) expand the workforce to improve rural behavioral health services capacity, (5) increasing telehealth services and repurposing available space to expand access to behavioral health services, and (6) expanding private and public insurance coverage to improve access to essential behavioral health services.

Contact Information:

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More information about the RUPRI Health Panel: Rural Policy Analysis and Applications
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guides: Farmer Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Substance Use and Misuse

Click to view Research Alert.

Date: February 2, 2022

Serious Mental Illness and Mental Health Treatment Utilization among Adults Residing in Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Counties

The past year prevalence of serious mental illness (SMI) was significantly higher among non-metropolitan than metropolitan (5.90% vs. 5.18%, P < .03) adults, and only 67.58% of non-metropolitan and 64.29% of metropolitan adults with SMI received any mental health treatment in the past year. Additional analyses revealed further non-metropolitan/metropolitan medication, inpatient, and outpatient treatment differences. Regardless of county type, unmet treatment needs remain. The most commonly reported barriers to receiving mental health treatment among persons with SMI were not knowing where to go, a fear of being committed/medicated, and not having time for treatment.

Contact Information:

Additional Resources of Interest:

• Major Depression, Treatment Receipt, and Treatment Sources Among Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Adults
• More information about the Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guides: Mental Health, Rural Health Disparities

Click to view Research Alert.

Date: January 31, 2022

Rural-Urban Differences in Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences: Results from the National Survey of Children’s Health

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are events of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction occurring between birth and 17 years of age. Studies have found a direct correlation between ACEs and risky behaviors, poor physical health, and poor mental health outcomes in childhood. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) include a nurturing, safe, and supportive environment allowing for health development and overall wellness. In prior research, rural-urban differences in PCEs have not been examined using all 50 states. This brief examines the types and counts of ACEs and PCEs for rural and urban children. The study also reports on the differences between rural and urban ACEs and PCEs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Contact Information:

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More information about the Rural and Minority Health Research Center
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guide: Rural Health Disparities

Click to view Research Alert.

Date: January 19, 2022

Evaluating the Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Program

It is important to examine the unique geographical context for the provision of a spectrum of vital services (from physical to mental health) to those living with HIV/AIDS in rural areas. The purpose of this policy brief is to understand the overall experiences of the first grantee cohort (2020-21) of the Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Program. The Rural Health Research and Policy Centers pay particular attention to any barriers to or facilitators of successful grant implementation, and the sustainability of programs and acquisition of future funding. Understanding these may be key in planning for future grants, and may also inform future policies and programs aimed at addressing rural HIV/AIDS service delivery.

Contact Information:

Mariana Story Tuttle, MPH
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612.626.8401
tuttl090@umn.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More information about the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guides: Applying for Grants to Support Rural Health Projects, Conducting Rural Health Research, Needs Assessment, and Program Evaluation, Healthcare Access in Rural Communities, Rural Healthcare Quality, Social Determinants of Health for Rural People

Click to view Research Alert.

Date: January 10, 2022

High-Performing Rural Health System

This brief presents the RUPRI Health Panel’s vision for a high-performing rural health system and specific pillars of such a system. The RUPRI Health Panel envisions rural health services that are affordable and accessible for all rural residents through a sustainable health system that delivers high quality, high value services. A high-performing rural health system informed by the needs of each unique rural community and population groups will improve community health and well-being.

Contact Information:

Keith J. Mueller, PhD
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Phone: 319.384.3832
keith-mueller@uiowa.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

• Advancing Population Health in Rural Places: Key Lessons and Policy Opportunities
• High Performance Rural Health Care System of the Future
• More information about the RUPRI Health Panel: Rural Policy Analysis and Applications
• More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guides: Rural Hospitals, Rural Health Policy

Click to view Research Alert.

Date: December 3, 2021

Click to view Research Alert. 

Date: November 30, 2021

New Articles Published on Telehealth, Tobacco, Suicide, and Cancer Screening and Treatment

These journal articles written by the Rural Health Research Centers were recently added to Gateway.

Gateway lists the journal, a brief summary, and a link to additional information and access to the full text of the article, if available. While some journal articles are freely available, many require a subscription or affiliation with a subscribing library.

• Implementation of Telehealth Services in Rural Schools: A Qualitative Assessment
  • Rural Telehealth Research Center, 11/2021
• Use of Electronic Health Records to Manage Tobacco Screening and Treatment in Rural Primary Care
  • Maine Rural Health Research Center, 09/2021
• Suicide Mortality Rates in Farm-Related Occupations and the Agriculture Industry in the United States
  • Rural and Underserved Health Research Center, 09/2021
• Trends in Cancer Treatment Service Availability Across Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals
  • Rural and Minority Health Research Center, 08/2021
• Trends in spatial access to colonoscopy in South Carolina, 2000–2014
  • Rural and Minority Health Research Center, 06/2021
• Disparities in Meeting USPSTF Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines Among Women in the United States
  • Rural and Minority Health Research Center, 04/2021

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More information about the Maine Rural Health Research Center
• More information about the Rural and Minority Health Research Center
• More information about the Rural and Underserved Health Research Center

More information about the Rural Telehealth Research Center

Click to view Research Alert.