Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Closures of healthcare facilities and services
Oklahoma Rural Hospital Closures by the Numbers
Research brief discussing rural hospital closures in Oklahoma and impacts of closures on access to care. Presents data on closures between 2005 and 2020, noting driving distance to the nearest open hospital. Addresses demographic characteristics of counties with closed hospitals and health equity impacts of closures.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Research brief discussing rural hospital closures in Oklahoma and impacts of closures on access to care. Presents data on closures between 2005 and 2020, noting driving distance to the nearest open hospital. Addresses demographic characteristics of counties with closed hospitals and health equity impacts of closures.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Will Community Health Centers Survive COVID-19?
Evaluates the financial vulnerability of rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the importance of FQHCs to rural and underserved communities and makes suggestions to fortify FQHC revenue.
Author(s): Brad Wright, Erin Fraher, Marni Gwyther Holder, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 235-238
Date: 01/2021
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Evaluates the financial vulnerability of rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the importance of FQHCs to rural and underserved communities and makes suggestions to fortify FQHC revenue.
Author(s): Brad Wright, Erin Fraher, Marni Gwyther Holder, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 235-238
Date: 01/2021
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Maternity Care Deserts and Pregnancy-Associated Mortality in Louisiana
Results of a study exploring whether living in a county with no hospital offering obstetric care and no OB/GYN or certified nurse midwife providers was associated with risk of death during pregnancy and up to 1 year postpartum among women in Louisiana from 2016–2017. Features demographics, county-level maps showing level of access to maternity care, and statistics
Author(s): Maeve Wallace, Lauren Dyer, Erica Felker-Kantor, et al.
Citation: Women's Health Issues, 31(2), 122-129
Date: 2021
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Results of a study exploring whether living in a county with no hospital offering obstetric care and no OB/GYN or certified nurse midwife providers was associated with risk of death during pregnancy and up to 1 year postpartum among women in Louisiana from 2016–2017. Features demographics, county-level maps showing level of access to maternity care, and statistics
Author(s): Maeve Wallace, Lauren Dyer, Erica Felker-Kantor, et al.
Citation: Women's Health Issues, 31(2), 122-129
Date: 2021
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Bright Spots: Case Studies in Innovative Rural Healthcare
Profiles 8 rural healthcare facilities and communities that successfully addressed issues regarding access to healthcare and explores commonalities across the case studies. Describes how these initiatives optimize leadership, cultural transformation, data utilization, rural maternity care, and external partnerships.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: A&M Rural and Community Health Institute
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Profiles 8 rural healthcare facilities and communities that successfully addressed issues regarding access to healthcare and explores commonalities across the case studies. Describes how these initiatives optimize leadership, cultural transformation, data utilization, rural maternity care, and external partnerships.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: A&M Rural and Community Health Institute
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FQHC Roles and Opportunities Related to Rural Hospital Financial Distress and Closure
Explores the experiences of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) regarding hospital financial distress, downsizing, and closure. Summarizes the results of a survey of 34 FQHCs operating 277 sites in rural communities. Discusses the potential for collaboration between rural hospitals and FQHCs.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Explores the experiences of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) regarding hospital financial distress, downsizing, and closure. Summarizes the results of a survey of 34 FQHCs operating 277 sites in rural communities. Discusses the potential for collaboration between rural hospitals and FQHCs.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Rural Hospital Closures: Affected Residents Had Reduced Access to Health Care Services
Examines the effects of rural hospital closures on rural residents. Discusses the distance residents in the service areas of closed facilities had to travel to access common healthcare services between 2012 and 2018, as well as the availability of providers over time. Compares the health status of Medicare beneficiaries in services areas with and without hospital closures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the effects of rural hospital closures on rural residents. Discusses the distance residents in the service areas of closed facilities had to travel to access common healthcare services between 2012 and 2018, as well as the availability of providers over time. Compares the health status of Medicare beneficiaries in services areas with and without hospital closures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health
Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Healthy Women, Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Futures: Action Plan to Improve Maternal Health in America
Action plan outlining steps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities that endanger women before, during, and following pregnancy. Four main goals include: improving prevention and treatment services to promote positive health outcomes for every woman of reproductive age; prioritizing quality improvement efforts to support healthy pregnancies and births; improving postpartum health; and enhancing data and research to inform future interventions. Includes data and statistics on maternal health and morbidity, and addresses rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Dawn Alley, Andre Chappel, Nancy De Lew, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Action plan outlining steps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities that endanger women before, during, and following pregnancy. Four main goals include: improving prevention and treatment services to promote positive health outcomes for every woman of reproductive age; prioritizing quality improvement efforts to support healthy pregnancies and births; improving postpartum health; and enhancing data and research to inform future interventions. Includes data and statistics on maternal health and morbidity, and addresses rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Dawn Alley, Andre Chappel, Nancy De Lew, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Making it Work: Models of Success in Rural Maternity Care
Describes factors that underlie 3 successful models of rural maternity care and informs communities, clinicians, and hospitals wishing to keep obstetric services available on the local level. Includes information from interviews conducted at facilities in Baldwin, Wisconsin; Lakin, Kansas; and Russelville, Arkansas.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr, Mary Gilbertson
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Describes factors that underlie 3 successful models of rural maternity care and informs communities, clinicians, and hospitals wishing to keep obstetric services available on the local level. Includes information from interviews conducted at facilities in Baldwin, Wisconsin; Lakin, Kansas; and Russelville, Arkansas.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr, Mary Gilbertson
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Healthcare: A Key Challenge in Alabama's Black Belt
Issue brief examining healthcare access in Alabama's Black Belt region compared to national trends. Covers hospital beds in relation to population, rural hospital closures, COVID-19 strain, and policy impacts.
Author(s): Emily Jacobs, Hunter Whann, Emily Grace Corley, Jonathan Bowen, Noel Keeney
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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Issue brief examining healthcare access in Alabama's Black Belt region compared to national trends. Covers hospital beds in relation to population, rural hospital closures, COVID-19 strain, and policy impacts.
Author(s): Emily Jacobs, Hunter Whann, Emily Grace Corley, Jonathan Bowen, Noel Keeney
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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