The cardiovascular mortality rates in the United States (US) are reported to be higher in rural communities in comparison with their urban counterparts [1] . Rural Americans comprise about 15 % to 20 % of the US population and are more likely to bear a larger burden of comorbidities, lack insurance, have low socioeconomic status, have limited access to higher-level hospitals and subspecialist care, and be medically underserved [12] . A cross-sectional study of more than 214,000 respondents using data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System showed that the prevalence rates of diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were 8.6 % and 38.8 % higher, respectively, among respondents living in rural areas compared with urban areas [3] . Furthermore, patients admitted to rural hospitals are less likely to receive guideline-directed medical therapy while in the hospital and at the time of discharge, which further augments the problem and translates into higher mortality. Sheikh and Bullock reviewed data from medical records of 2521 Kansas Medicare patients ages 65 years and older who survived acute myocardial infarction (AMI) [4] . They stratified hospitals into urban, rural, and semi-rural facilities and assessed the quality of care by reviewing in-hospital and discharge medications. Results showed that patients admitted to rural hospitals were less likely to receive lifesaving therapies such as aspirin and beta-blockers at discharge, and thrombolytic therapy [4] . Public health efforts to bridge these gaps and improve processes of care delivery systems in rural areas have intensified in the past few decades. The US Department of Health and Human Services launched the Healthy People 2030 initiative on August 18, 2020, which is the fifth iteration of the Healthy People initiative [5] . One of the goals of the Healthy People 2030 program is to “achieve health equity, eliminate disparities and improve the health of all groups” [5] . This initiative underscores the importance of addressing and eliminating healthcare inequities and improving the health of all Americans, regardless of race, sex, or social-economic or geographic status.