A research paper authored by a team from the University of Iowa College of Public Health has been recognized by Wiley as one of the top-10 cited papers among the studies published by the Journal of Rural Health in 2024.

The study, published in January 2024, examined how nursing home closures have affected access to care in rural communities. The researchers found that residents often must travel significantly farther to receive both short‑term recovery care and long‑term care—especially in areas where no nursing homes remain. The paper’s high citation count reflects its strong impact on national conversations about rural health, aging populations, and access to care.

Hari Sharma, associate professor of health management and policy, served as the study’s corresponding author. Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Fred Ullrich, Clint MacKinney, and Keith Muller—also from the Department of Health Management and Policy—were coauthors.

Wiley, a global organization that publishes and promotes academic research, identifies top‑cited papers based on how frequently they are referenced by other researchers—an important marker of influence and relevance in the field.