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Rural Health Information Hub

Other Case Studies and Collections of Program Examples: Healthcare quality

In addition to RHIhub's Rural Health Models and Innovations rural program examples, you may also want to browse other case studies, databases, and websites with collections of health programs.

Each resource listed below uses its own criteria for selecting program examples, which may range from programs known to be effective based on research to anecdotal accounts. In each resource, you may want to review information on the level of evidence required for a program's inclusion.

May include non-rural programs that could be applicable to rural health delivery.

Rural Success: Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital, LA
Highlights the success of a Critical Access Hospital in Louisiana in receiving high cleanliness scores and care transitions scores on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. Discusses their initiative to reduce C. difficile infections, strategies for communication and cleaning, emergency department transitions, and teamwork recognition.
Citation: MBQIP Monthly, 1-2
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Bacon County Hospital Advances Toward Population Health
Highlights a 25-bed acute care hospital in Alma, Georgia that worked with the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) project to improve its finances and operations. Summarizes projects that expanded telemedicine services, increased point-of-service collections, built awareness of quality performance and services, and addressed community needs.
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Washington County Memorial Hospital Improving Patient Experience
Highlights a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in Potosi, Missouri that participated in the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) project. Improvements focused on quality reporting, patient communication, patient rounding, and more.
Date: 11/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Northern Maine Medical Center – Fort Kent, Maine: Purchase of Retail Pharmacy Enhances Services to the Community
Profiles a hospital in rural Maine that purchased a community pharmacy to offer prevention and wellness services, reduce readmissions, and improve medication adherence.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center Experiencing Improved Community Feedback
Updates the quality improvement work of a Critical Access Hospital in West Virginia that operates a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinic (RHC). Focuses on the hospital's accomplishments around patient experience and clinical quality as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Quality of Care and Transition Project.
Additional links: One Page Summary
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Promising Practice: Texas SORH's Handheld Ultrasound Project - An Innovative Approach to Providing Training & Technology to Small Rural Hospitals
Details a pilot program implemented by the Texas State Office of Rural Health that allows rural hospitals to use handheld ultrasound machines as a cost-effective method for improving quality of care.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Evergreen Medical Center Remains Committed to Quality Care
Describes Evergreen Medical Center's (EMC) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project, focused on care transitions and healthcare quality. EMC is a short-term acute care hospital located in Evergreen, Alabama. EMC focused on patient satisfaction, clinical documentation, preventing readmissions by improving care transitions, and quality reporting.
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Exploring Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Case Studies
In-depth studies of 10 Appalachian counties with health outcomes that are better than expected, given their characteristics and resources. Identifies actions these areas are taking to improve health and well-being. Features statistics including demographics and health-related data, and maps showing economic status of Appalachian counties. Third in a series of reports exploring health issues in Appalachia.
Author(s): Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, et al.
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Burness, PDA, Inc., The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Atmore Community Hospital: Consistent Implementation Leads to Results
Describes the success of Atmore Community Hospital, located in Atmore, Alabama, after participating in the Small Rural Hospital Transition project. During the project, the 49-bed short-term acute care hospital focused on maximizing the influence from leadership rounds, increasing marketing to communicate accomplishments to the community, and tracking patient satisfaction scores to improve clinic operations.
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Promising Practice: Michigan Center for Rural Health Plays Unique Role in Hospital Quality Improvement
Details the unique role the Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) plays as a liaison between the state's 21 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and the Michigan Hospital Association (MHA) to facilitate quality of care, reduce patient readmission rates, and improve patient safety throughout the state.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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