Public health

Current Projects

Cancer Hospitalizations in Rural-Urban Areas in Relation to Carcinogenic Discharges from Toxics Release Inventory Facilities
Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Environmental & agricultural health, Hospitals and clinics, Public health
The purpose of the research is to understand whether discharges of carcinogens from Toxics Release Inventory facilities are related to higher cancer hospitalization rates in rural and urban settings. Evidence for this association will have potential implications for improvements to environmental policy or policies for improved cancer detection and treatment in rural settings.

Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector
Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health
Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial or other sources. This project analyzes the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services.

Promotion and Protection of Rural Miner Health: Are the Resources in Place?
Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Health services, Public health
Miners are exposed to various potentially harmful agents and dangerous work conditions, and may have difficulty accessing care in some rural settings. The study aims to 1) Locate and map mining communities in the US and rural safety net providers (RHC’s, FQHC’s and Critical Access Hospitals) in those communities; and 2) Identify environmental health competencies (specifically related to miner health) in rural primary care providers practicing in identified mining communities.

Rural H1N1 Experience
Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic: Public health
This project aims to describe the rural H1N1 experience, including comparisons of rural vs. urban H1N1 vaccination rates, and describe rural H1N1 incidence, care patterns, and mortality. Additionally, through key stakeholder interviews, we will describe the rural needs in decisions relative to H1N1 vaccine distribution.

Topics Centers Researchers Other Resources Search		Public health Current Projects Cancer Hospitalizations in Rural-Urban Areas in Relation to Carcinogenic Discharges from Toxics Release Inventory Facilities Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Environmental & agricultural health, Hospitals and clinics, Public health The purpose of the research is to understand whether discharges of carcinogens from Toxics Release Inventory facilities are related to higher cancer hospitalization rates in rural and urban settings. Evidence for this association will have potential implications for improvements to environmental policy or policies for improved cancer detection and treatment in rural settings. Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Public health Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial or other sources. This project analyzes the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services. Promotion and Protection of Rural Miner Health: Are the Resources in Place? Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Environmental & agricultural health, Health services, Public health Miners are exposed to various potentially harmful agents and dangerous work conditions, and may have difficulty accessing care in some rural settings. The study aims to 1) Locate and map mining communities in the US and rural safety net providers (RHC’s, FQHC’s and Critical Access Hospitals) in those communities; and 2) Identify environmental health competencies (specifically related to miner health) in rural primary care providers practicing in identified mining communities. Rural H1N1 Experience Research center : West Virginia Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topic: Public health This project aims to describe the rural H1N1 experience, including comparisons of rural vs. urban H1N1 vaccination rates, and describe rural H1N1 incidence, care patterns, and mortality. Additionally, through key stakeholder interviews, we will describe the rural needs in decisions relative to H1N1 vaccine distribution.