To better reflect how residents perceive their communities, especially in rural areas, Common Ground has developed a Geoclassification Index. This index redefines how rurality is measured by combining national datasets with on-the-ground insight.
Traditional methods define rurality by what it lacks, such as urban characteristics, population density or administrative boundaries. This oversimplification often overlooks the diversity and nuance in rural areas and limits our ability to accurately assess health disparities across regions.
The new Geoclassification Index uses census tracts as the foundation and comprises six geographic categories: Urban, Suburban, Rural – Transitional, Rural – Population Center, Rural, and Correctional Facilities.
“This index prioritizes community self-perception and promotes data equity, to ensure that geographic categorizations truly reflect the lived experiences of those we serve,” said Dr. Holly Sienkiewicz, Dr.PH, director of research for Common Ground Health.
“By incorporating residents’ self-perception into our classification and validating our methods with regional experts, this tool helps ensure that policies, programs, and resource allocation more accurately reflect the lived experiences of those we serve,” said Jamie Hayslip, director of analytics for Common Ground Health. “Early analyses show significant variation in health care utilization and outcomes by geographic category, highlighting the value of this more nuanced framework.”
Sienkiewicz noted this method has the potential to promote health equity in rural areas and help target interventions where they are most needed.
Applying this new method to statewide data has already shown differences in ED and hospitalization utilization rates, premature mortality, and life expectancy.
An interactive map and details on how the method was developed are located here.
To learn more or to collaborate on using the Geoclassification Index, contact research@commongroundhealth.org .