Health policy

COVID-19 and the flu are constantly changing, and new waves can circulate and spread unexpectedly. In Minnesota, nearly three-quarters of urban residents are vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to just over half of rural residents according to previous research.

Nearly seven million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s and related diseases (ADRD), according to the Alzheimer's Association — a number that has more than doubled in the last 20 years. While funding and support to advance the science of dementia care has increased substantially, care innovations still need to be successfully implemented outside of healthcare organizations and test cases that are difficult to replicate. To address the issue, the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota is launching the Establishing Mechanisms of Benefit to Reinforce the Alzheimer’s Care Experience (EMBRACE) AD/ADRD Roybal Center. 

While attacks are more common in urban hospitals, operational disruptions may hit rural hospitals — and rural residents — harder.

New study finds increased access to naloxone combined with strategies to address solitary drug use  can more significantly reduce opioid-related deaths

Americans living in rural communities experience higher rates of depression and suicide than people who live in urban areas. These long-standing mental health inequities are attributed to a wide range of factors including affordability, accessibility and lingering stigmas around receiving care. 

A study of health care distribution models in Senegal by the Carlson School of Management has lessons for rural care providers worldwide.