Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Rural Health Research Products & Journal Articles

2024

An Updated Model of Rural Hospital Financial Distress
Journal Article
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 10/2024
In fall 2024, the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program completed a study modeling financial distress among rural hospitals, "An Updated Model of Rural Hospital Financial Distress." The model updates a 2016 version, by adding recent changes in the operating environment.
2018-23 Profitability of Rural Hospitals by Ownership and System Affiliation
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 06/2024
This study compares the 2018-23 profitability of rural hospitals based on ownership and system affiliation status. The purpose of this brief is to describe the profitability of rural hospitals over a five-year period consisting of two years before and three years after COVID-19.
2018-23 Profitability of Rural Hospitals by With and Without Rural Health Clinics and Long-Term Care
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 06/2024
This study compares the 2018-23 profitability of rural hospitals for hospitals that provide and do not provide long-term care, and that operate and do not operate rural health clinics.
2018‐23 Profitability of Rural and Urban Hospitals by Medicare Payment Designation
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 06/2024
This study compares profitability of three types of hospitals in both urban and rural locations: Critical Access Hospitals, Prospective Payment System-only (PPS) hospitals by number of acute beds, and PPS hospitals with special payment designations hospitals over a five-year period.
COVID-19 Affected Rural and Urban Hospital Uncompensated Care
Fact Sheet
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 03/2024
The purpose of this infographic is to illustrate the impact COVID-19 had on uncompensated care and operating margin among rural and urban hospitals.

2023

Excess Deaths Associated With COVID-19 by Rurality and Demographic Factors in the United States
Journal Article
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2023
Researchers analyzed U.S. mortality data to quantify excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic to describe rural-urban disparities by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. There were nearly 17% more deaths than expected between March 2020 and February 2023.
Spatial Clustering of COVID-19 Mortality Rates Across Counties and by Noncore, Micropolitan, and Metropolitan County Characteristics, December 2020–January 2021
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 06/2023
This policy brief identifies spatial clusters of high COVID-19 mortality rates across counties in the United States between December 2020 and January 2021 and describes the characteristics of counties with high COVID-19 mortality rates.
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.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Independent and Provider-Based Rural Health Clinics' Operations and Cancer Prevention and Screening Provision in the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 03/2023
The provision of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) cancer prevention and screening services was examined to identify any changes pre- and peri-pandemic. The research examined overall provision of cancer prevention and screening services by RHCs and the provision of these services by independent RHCs and by provider-based RHCs .
COVID-19 Vaccination Rates
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 03/2023
This rural data brief provides a longitudinal examination of completion of primary COVID-19 vaccination series in the age-eligible population in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties.
COVID-19 Mortality Rates Across Noncore, Micropolitan, and Metropolitan Counties by Community Characteristics, December 2020-January 2021
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 01/2023
This policy brief examines differences in COVID-19 mortality rates across rural-urban designations and stratifications by geography, county-level sociodemographic factors, and county-level healthcare factors.

2022

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rural Health Clinics' Operations and Cancer Prevention and Control Efforts
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2022
This study surveyed a stratified random sample of Rural Health Clinics throughout the country to examine how the pandemic has affected their overall operations and provision of cancer prevention and control services.
The Involvement of Rural Health Clinic Practitioners in Cancer Treatment Decisions and Survivorship Care
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 10/2022
This study examined Rural Health Clinics' practitioner involvement in cancer treatment decisions, management of side effects, surveillance, and survivorship care.
Review of Rural U.S. Economic and Health Care Trends
Report
Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
Date: 09/2022
This report reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of health care and local economic vibrancy. The report also explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19, however full impacts will not be known for several years.

2021

COVID-19 Cases and Vaccination Rates
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 09/2021
This data brief examines the relationship between vaccination rates, COVID-19 one-week incidence and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan location. Additional information is provided for Census regions and individual states.
Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 08/2021
This data brief shows the spread of COVID-19 confirmed cases across the U.S., highlighting metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties with confirmed cases of, and deaths from, COVID-19.
County-Level 14-Day COVID-19 Case Trajectories
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 08/2021
Many locations in the U.S. are relaxing their community-level COVID-19 mitigation measures. But one of the key "gating" indicators for doing this is a downward trajectory of new cases during a 14-day period. The rural data brief examines county-level 14-day trajectories for new confirmed COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19 Cases and Deaths, Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties Over Time (Update)
Report
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 08/2021
This data brief compares seven-day moving average COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates between metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties in the U.S. The brief is updated twice a month.
Pharmacy Vaccination Service Availability in Nonmetropolitan Counties
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 02/2021
Pharmacies will play a role in administering the COVID-19 vaccination to the general public. But there are many rural locations in the U.S. where pharmacy resources are limited. This rural data brief examines the availability of pharmacies capable of delivering COVID-19 vaccinations in nonmetropolitan areas.

2020

Rural Hospitalizations for COVID-19: Snapshot on December 10, 2020
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 12/2020
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data were analyzed to compare rural and urban hospitals on two metrics: 1) the percentage of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and 2) the percentage of hospital beds occupied by patients that have COVID-19.
Rural Hospitals Have Higher Percentages of Patients With COVID-19
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 12/2020
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data were analyzed to compare the percentage of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in rural versus urban hospitals.
The Unique Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults in Rural Areas
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2020
Older adults in rural areas of the U.S. face unique risks related to COVID-19, which puts them at risk of not only the virus, but of not being able to meet their healthcare, social, and basic needs. Rural/urban inequities, combined with within-rural inequities in health, healthcare, and financial resources cause particular challenges.
Metropolitan/Nonmetropolitan COVID-19 Confirmed Cases and General and ICU Beds
Policy Brief
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Date: 05/2020
The spread of COVID-19 across rural areas has fueled concern about the availability of healthcare resources for dealing with the pandemic. This brief looks at a single measure of healthcare resources – hospital beds – and reports of current COVID-19 cases in a single week to assess the impact on rural facilities.
Most Rural Hospitals Have Little Cash Going Into COVID
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 05/2020
This infographic uses Medicare Cost Report data to illustrate the type of rural hospitals most likely to struggle financially during the pandemic as measured by lower median days cash on hand.