Rural Health
Research Gateway

Lars E. Peterson, MD, PhD

Rural and Underserved Health Research Center

Phone: 859.538.7180
Email: lpeterson@theabfm.org

Research Department
American Board of Family Medicine
1648 McGrathiana Parkway Suite 550
Lexington, KY 40511

Current Projects - (1)

  • Disparities in Screening, Prevention, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Rural and Urban Primary Care
    This study will use a large national primary care registry to compare cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening, prevention, and management quality measures between rural and urban primary care practices. It will also assess for disparities by patient composition (race/ethnicity, insurance) of the practice.
    Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Topics: Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities and health equity, Health promotion and disease prevention, Health services, Minority health, Physicians, Quality

Completed Projects - (4)

  • Predictors of Buprenorphine Prescribing by Family Physicians in Rural Areas Nationally
    This project examined how physician and practice-level characteristics are associated with family physicians prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder across rural and urban areas. The study made use of a unique dataset collected among family physicians nationally in 2017.
    Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Health services, Mental and behavioral health, Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Physicians, Substance use and treatment
  • Rural and Urban Variation in Family Physicians' Demographics and Practices
    This project examined changes in personal demographics of family physicians comparing urban and rural areas, how these changes aligned with those of the populations they serve, and how rural physician practices have changed over time. This project used American Board of Family Medicine data.
    Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Minority health, Physicians, Rural statistics and demographics
  • Rural Family Physicians' Ability to Address Patients' Social Determinants of Health Needs
    This project examines how practice-level and community-level characteristics are associated with a family physician's assessment of their practice's ability to address patients' social needs.
    Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Physicians, Poverty, Social determinants of health
  • Variation in Scope of Practice and Medical Services Available at Family Physician Practices within Rural Areas
    Using data collected during recertification of family physicians by the American Board of Family Medicine, we examined variation in the scope of practice of family physicians and services available in the primary practice site by degree of rurality and within rural categories by community-level deprivation, as well as variation by Patient Centered Medical Home status.
    Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Health services, Physicians

Publications - (9)

2023

2022

2020

  • The Declining Scope of Practice of Family Physicians Is Limited to Urban Areas
    Journal Article
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 11/2020
    The scope of practice for family medicine physicians has decreased in recent years. Using survey data, researchers compared family medicine physicians' scope of practice scores based on rural-urban status and other variables. Researchers found statistically significant decreases in scope of practice scores in urban settings.
  • Early-Career and Graduating Physicians More Likely to Prescribe Buprenorphine
    Journal Article
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2020
    Only a small percentage of people who need treatment for opioid use disorder receive it, including buprenorphine. This paper shows differences in rates of prescribing buprenorphine and intentions to prescribe buprenorphine between early- and mid-to-late career family physicians, based on a survey of physicians taking a certification examination.
  • Practice Predictors of Buprenorphine Prescribing by Family Physicians
    Journal Article
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2020
    Physicians may prescribe buprenorphine if they obtain a waiver, but relatively few family physicians do so. This paper examines the association between practice characteristics and the likelihood that a family physician will prescribe buprenorphine, based on a survey of physicians seeking board certification in family medicine.

2019

  • Declining Endoscopic Care by Family Physicians in Both Rural and Urban Areas
    Journal Article
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 07/2019
    This paper explores the decline in the percentage of family physicians providing endoscopic services overall and in urban and rural areas. This has implications on the availability of colonoscopies, endoscopies, and flexible sigmoidoscopies in areas that lack specialists who perform such services.

2018

  • Rural Family Physicians Have a Broader Scope of Practice Than Urban Family Physicians
    Policy Brief
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 02/2018
    While the scope of practice of family physicians has been shrinking, they still practice broadly, often due to fewer health care resources in rural areas. Using data from family physicians seeking continued board certification in 2014 and 2015, we found that a high percentage of rural family physicians provide nearly every clinical service queried.
  • Rural Family Physicians in Patient Centered Medical Homes Have a Broader Scope of Practice
    Policy Brief
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 02/2018
    The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is supposed to provide accessible and comprehensive care. Using data from family physicians seeking to continue their American Board of Family Medicine certification in 2014 and 2015, we found that rural family physicians in PCMH practices generally provide more services than those in non-PCMH practices.