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Rural Health
Research Gateway

Shena Popat, MHA

ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center

Email: popat-shena@norc.org
LinkedIn: Shena on LinkedIn

NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
1828 L Street NW, 9th Floor
Washington DC, 20036

Current Projects - (3)

  • Examining Rural Population Characteristics and Access to Care: A Study of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)
    This project examined Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), analyzing geographic disparities in provider shortages across rural and urban settings. Findings highlight variations in access to primary care, mental health, and dental services, informing federal programs that allocate resources to improve health care access.
    Research center: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Healthcare access, Mental and behavioral health, Oral health, Workforce
  • Rural and Urban Sepsis Outcomes as a Measure of Health Care Quality: A Nationwide Comparative Analysis Using HCUP Data
    This study examines differences in sepsis prevalence, outcomes, costs, and treatment between rural and urban hospitals using the HCUP Nationwide Readmissions Database. It aims to inform policies related to access to timely, high-quality sepsis care and identify strategies to enhance healthcare outcomes across diverse hospital settings.
    Research center: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Care management, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Emergency medical services (EMS) and trauma, Healthcare access, Hospitals and clinics, Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA), Private health insurance, Quality, Social determinants of health
  • Rural/Urban Differences in Forgoing Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
    Several surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that adults delayed or skipped healthcare services during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines changes in healthcare utilization for primary and preventative care among rural and urban Medicare fee-for-service enrollees since the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Research center: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Aging, Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Diabetes, Health promotion and disease prevention, Health services, Medicare, Mental and behavioral health, Telehealth

Publications - (3)

2025

  • Are HCC Risk Scores a Reliable Health Status Indicator Across Rural and Urban Areas?
    Policy Brief
    ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 04/2025
    This brief explores differences in CMS Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries, revealing lower scores for rural populations despite higher chronic disease prevalence. The brief highlights HCC score limitations and suggests improvements and alternatives for accurate health representation.

2016

  • Exploring Rural and Urban Mortality Differences
    North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
    Date: 03/2016
    Contains visual aids which display indicators of mortality rates by cause of death, age group, rural-urban status, region, and sex for populations 15 years of age and older cross-referenced to tables and statistical results.

2014

  • Rural-Urban Disparities in Heart Disease
    Policy Brief
    North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
    Date: 10/2014
    The Department of Health and Human Services' report Health, United States, 2001: With Urban and Rural Health Chartbook illustrated trends and highlighted priorities in urban/rural health. The Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center replicated the analyses using the most recent data available. This brief highlights key heart disease findings.