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This study seeks to understand the unique experiences of gay and bisexual men who live in culturally conservative, rural communities and the implications of these experiences for the provision of health care. Researchers administered qualitative interviews to 44 individuals to determine the ways that their environments impacted their health and social behaviors. Results of this study revealed the powerful role that stigma plays in inhibiting access to health care and social support networks. The authors emphasize the need for greater discussion and awareness campaigns around stigma as an etiologic factor that impacts the health and well-being of rural gay and bisexual men. This is especially important in light of the fact that the incidence of HIV in America is particularly prevalent in rural communities where there are dispersed populations, fewer health care resources, and a lack of culturally responsive providers that understand the needs of stigmatized populations.

This study examines the role that family physicians play in maternity care in rural communities across the US. Authors collected data from 185 rural hospitals and found that family physicians delivered babies in 67% of these hospitals and were the only doctors doing so in 27% of these hospitals. The results of this study reveal the importance of family physicians in providing maternal health care in rural America. The study’s authors stress the importance of adequate maternal care training for future family physicians who intend to practice in rural location during their residency training.

This article describes an approach to virtual recruitment to engage rural residents with atrial fibrillation in a clinical trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors mainly report process outcomes related to successful recruitment and retention of trial participants, and qualitative data on participants experiences.

This article describes the rapid statewide COVID-19 vaccination strategy implemented by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The strategy focused on equitable distribution and reaching hard to reach populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups and rural communities.

This literature review outlines support for mobile health clinics as a successful and cost-effective method of healthcare delivery, especially towards underserved populations. Although financial and logistical challenges exist when implementing mobile health clinics, they ultimately help eliminate common barriers to health access. “Serving as a stepping-stone between the clinic and the community, MHCs are able to address both medical and social determinants of health, and have the potential to play an important role in our evolving healthcare system.”

This blueprint presents recommendations for Illinois to reduce health disparities in rural areas. Recommendations include (1) investing in programs to recruit and retain rural health care workers; (2) improving rural data systems; (3) integrating health care and social services in rural areas; (4) increasing communication between rural health organizations and public health departments; and (5) creating a rural innovation center to coordinate data, policies, and strategies across state agencies.

During COVID-19, rural areas have seen greater mortality rates and more problems delivering services. This article discusses the challenges rural health departments have faced and the opportunities to use technology to mitigate those challenges. Challenges include the disproportionately low funding the rural health departments receive. Opportunities include departments scheduling electronic public health appointments (such as WIC recertifications), as well as working to expand their partnerships with partners across the state and rethink statewide allocation of public health funding.

In northwest Arkansas, the Marshallese community has experienced a disproportionate COVID-19 burden. This response plan, funded by the CARES act, hired English/Marshallese bilingual staff to provide contact tracing, navigation, and other types of response. Staff that were not bilingual participated in cultural humility training.

This brief recommendations article urges public health decision-makers to consider the rural social environment when addressing COVID-19. Some recommendations include considering familial roles in rural communities, leveraging community leaders as trusted messengers, and using strengths-based messaging.

This article summarizes COVID-19 harm reduction approaches taken by a family medicine/OBGYN residency program serving rural, western North Carolina for patients with an opioid use disorder. To meet patient needs, low acuity patients were offered telehealth options and digital prescriptions for buprenorphine/naloxone. For higher acuity patients, in=person visits were maintained and the risk/benefits were weighed on a continuous basis.