Publications
Recent PublicationsRural Populations are Aging – What it Means for Iowa
New data from the USDA Economic Research Service shows a major demographic shift in rural America. While the overall rural population has grown by more than two million, the number of working-age residents (15–64) has declined by over two million. This trend reflects longer life expectancy, lower birth rates, and younger individuals moving away—while more older adults choose to retire in rural communities.
Obstetric Care Access Declined in Rural and Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010-22.
With support from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania found widespread loss of obstetric services across states, especially among rural hospitals, during the 12-year period studied. By 2022, eight states had more than two-thirds of rural hospitals without obstetric services.
Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America
Among the key findings in this brief from the University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center:
Current Approaches to Rural Health Workforce Challenges Need Improvement
Rural health and access to care have been a concern to health care providers and policymakers for many years. The daunting combination of a scarcity of health care resources; enduring poverty; and challenges related to education, technology, transportation, and infrastructure have resulted in widespread and growing health disparities for people living in rural areas, relative to their urban neighbors. While the data show New York’s efforts to be highly successful in recruiting providers into rural areas, the lesson learned is that additional measures are needed.
New Report Describes Rural Health Challenges and Action Steps
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at the Geisel School of Medicine, together with partners at Dartmouth Health, have issued a new report that details the key insights and primary recommendations that emerged from the inaugural Rural Health Symposium.
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Topic Areas
Community Health
Dental/Oral Health
Direct Care
General Rural Health
Maternal Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Primary Care
Public Health
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The Iowa Healthcare Workforce
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A Review of Recruitment and Retention Strategies in US Local Health Departments: Insights and Practical Solutions
This study highlights the staffing barriers facing LHDs and offers practical solutions they can implement to support successful recruitment and retention. More work is needed to identify specific ways to improve workplace culture, quantify the disparity between pay offered by health departments and their competitors, and better understand barriers and opportunities related to supporting a diverse workforce.
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Who Is Leaving the Emergency Medical Services Workforce?Emergency medical services (EMS) are a critical part of the US healthcare, public health, and public safety systems, providing both emergency and non-emergency care across diverse pre-hospital settings. EMS clinicians hold tiered credentials based on education, certification, and licensure, yet workforce shortages persist due to the absence of a comprehensive national database.
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Obstetric Care Access Declined in Rural and Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010–22.
A new Health Affairs study reveals a nationwide decline in hospital-based obstetric services between 2010 and 2022, affecting both rural and urban hospitals. The study emphasizes that these closures are linked to policy and resource decisions and warns that reduced access to obstetric care may worsen maternal and infant health outcomes, especially in highly rural and underserved communities.
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New Study Finds Key Factors to Expanding Dental Care in the Safety Net
Our recent study examined critical factors influencing the delivery of oral health services at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and findings were recently published in the June issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. Researchers analyzed FQHC utilization data from 2012 to 2021 to evaluate trends in oral health services at over 1,000 FQHCs nationwide.
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Training a rural oral health workforce: Effects of rural background on dentist practice choice
This study compares access to, and services offered by, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in rural and urban communities. The increasing numbers of CCBHCs in rural communities combined with their range of offered services holds promise towards increasing the availability of care for rural communities within an integrated model.
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