Katie Rydberg, MPH

University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Phone: 612.626.8401
Email: reedx472@umn.edu
X: @katie_rydberg

Health Policy and Management
University of Minnesota
2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 350
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Current Projects - (3)
Completed Projects - (2)
Publications - (16)

Current Projects - (3)

Geographic and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Medical Debt Among Rural Residents
Medical debt is widespread and impacts financial well-being and access to care. While research suggests that medical debt is higher among rural residents compared to urban residents, more work is needed to conclusively demonstrate rural/urban differences in medical debt and within-rural risk factors for greater medical debt by geography and socio-demographic characteristics.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Poverty, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
Improving Health for "Homebound" Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas
This project will describe rural-urban differences in the risk of, and characteristics associated with, being classified as "homebound." We will also identify policy and programmatic interventions to reduce the risk of becoming homebound as well as to improve outcomes for those who are homebound.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Home health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
Rural-Urban Differences in Access to and Quality of Care for People With Disabilities
The purpose of this project is to identify rural-urban differences in access to and quality of health care services for people with disabilities. Results from this project will help inform policy to improve access to and quality of care for this growing population in rural areas.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Quality, Social determinants of health

Completed Projects - (2)

Ransomware Attacks on Rural Hospitals
The rise in hospital ransomware attacks threatens to harm patients, especially in rural areas. This project used a novel dataset to analyze rural/urban differences in how ransomware attacks affect patients and hospitals.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Emergency medical services (EMS) and trauma, Health information technology, Hospitals and clinics
The Direct Care Workforce in Rural Areas
In this study, we measured the supply of long-term care services and supports (LTSS) direct care workers relative to older adult populations in rural and urban areas and measure employer and industry turnover among LTSS direct care workers. We also explored how compensation levels – including wages and employer-based health insurance – are related to and predict worker turnover in the LTSS direct care workforce in rural and urban areas.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Allied health professionals, Health services, Home health, Long-term care, Post-acute care, Poverty, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health, Workforce

Publications - (16)

2024

Understanding the Impact of Medical Debt in Rural Communities: Perspectives From Rural Hospital Administrators
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2024
This policy brief presents findings from key informant interviews with nine administrators representing rural hospitals in seven states. Using content analysis of interview data, researchers share findings around hospital and community-level implications of medical debt, and policies that may help or hinder this issue.
Health Care Affordability and Medical Debt: Differences by Rurality, Region, and Socio-Demographic Characteristics
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 09/2024
This policy brief examines rural/urban differences in rates of health care (un)affordability, as well as among rural residents by key socio-demographic characteristics.
Understanding the Rise of Ransomware Attacks on Rural Hospitals
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2024
This policy brief presents findings from a novel database of hospital ransomware attacks, focusing on the frequency and characteristics of ransomware attacks on rural hospitals.
Housing for Rural Residents Recovering from Substance Use Disorders
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2024
The purpose of this case series is to highlight organizations providing housing for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders in rural communities. These may serve as examples to others considering this work.
What Happens to Rural Hospitals During a Ransomware Attack? Evidence From Medicare Data
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 03/2024
To understand more about how ransomware attacks affect care at rural hospitals, researchers used data on hospital ransomware attacks from 2016 to 2021. This paper describes how ransomware attacks disrupted hospital operations at rural and urban areas, and the implications for these attacks especially in rural areas.

2023

Key Informant Perspectives on Rural Housing and Health
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2023
In this policy brief, using content analysis of interview data, researchers share rural-specific housing barriers, including those that are related to health, as well as policy recommendations for addressing housing challenges to improve rural health.
Rural/Urban Differences in Receipt of Governmental Rental Assistance: Relationship to Health and Disability
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2023
Housing is a vital component of health, and governmental rental assistance is one avenue of increasing access to affordability. In this paper, researchers examined rural/urban and within-rural differences in receipt of governmental rental assistance, with a focus on differences by health and disability.
Characteristics of Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals That Experienced a Ransomware Attack From 2016 to 2021
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2023
Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. In this paper, researchers compare the characteristics (including rurality) of ransomware-attacked and non-attacked hospitals in the U.S. in order to understand which hospitals may be most vulnerable to cybercrime.
Distribution of Direct Care Workforce COVID-19 Funding Between Rural and Urban Counties in Minnesota and Illinois
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2023
The purpose of this policy brief is to examine trends in the distribution of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act of 2020 (CARES Act) funding designed to support the direct care workforce between rural and urban counties in Minnesota and Illinois.
Crowded Housing and Housing Cost Burden by Disability, Race, Ethnicity, and Rural-Urban Location
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 03/2023
Housing is closely tied to health outcomes and well-being; however, little research examines housing factors by location. In this policy brief, we examine rates of crowded housing and housing cost burden by rural-urban location, as well as at the intersections of race, ethnicity, and disability status.

2022

Evaluating the Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Program
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2022
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. We pay particular attention to any barriers to or facilitators of successful grant implementation, and the sustainability of programs and acquisition of future funding.

2021

Rural Health Network Development Planning Grants: Geographic Location and Change Over Time
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2021
The purpose of this policy brief is to examine the geographic distribution of Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant recipients across the United States.
Successes and Challenges to Network Sustainability: Perspectives of 2019-2020 Rural Health Network Development Planning Grantees
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2021
The purpose of this brief is to examine the successes and challenges to network sustainability, as well as barriers to and facilitators of success among the 2019-2020 cohort grantees in the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program.
Rural Health Network Development Planning Grants Awarded to Entities in Counties With Majority Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color Populations, 2003-2020
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2021
The purpose of this policy brief is to describe the prevalence of Rural Health Network Development Planning Grants awarded to organizations located in counties where the population is majority Black, majority Hispanic, majority Indigenous, has no majority racial or ethnic group, or is located in a U.S. territory.
Success Among Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Awardees: Barriers and Facilitators
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2021
The purpose of this policy brief is to examine the barriers to and facilitators of success for grantees implementing the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant and meeting their individual goals for the grant period.
Trends in Network Focus Areas Among Network Development Planning Grantees, 2003-2020
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2021
The purpose of this policy brief is to examine the trends over time in network focus areas among grantees awarded the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant from 2003-2020.