Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Closures of healthcare facilities and services
Optimizing Rural Health: A Community Healthcare Blueprint
Provides three in-depth case studies of rural Texas communities facing hospital closures to learn more about how communities respond. Identifies lessons learned in regards to community awareness, community engagement, how access is defined, hospital board leadership, and finances to guide other rural communities facing similar challenges.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organizations: A&M Rural and Community Health Institute, Center for Optimizing Rural Health
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Provides three in-depth case studies of rural Texas communities facing hospital closures to learn more about how communities respond. Identifies lessons learned in regards to community awareness, community engagement, how access is defined, hospital board leadership, and finances to guide other rural communities facing similar challenges.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organizations: A&M Rural and Community Health Institute, Center for Optimizing Rural Health
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Rural Health Research Recap: Rural Hospital Closures
Summarizes key findings from the Rural Health Research Centers' most recent research on rural hospital closures. Discusses hospitals by U.S. census region, rural hospital closures between 2005 and 2017, urban and rural hospital profitability, and the financial distress index. Provides links to each of the referenced source documents.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Summarizes key findings from the Rural Health Research Centers' most recent research on rural hospital closures. Discusses hospitals by U.S. census region, rural hospital closures between 2005 and 2017, urban and rural hospital profitability, and the financial distress index. Provides links to each of the referenced source documents.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee Pilot Program Report
Reports on the initial results of using a "hub and spoke" model in Georgia to help address rural hospital financial pressures and emergency department overuse. Highlights the progress made by the initial four hub hospitals and the spokes, which included school-based healthcare and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Additional link provides performance metrics for the pilot.
Additional links: Profile for Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee (Data from SFY 2016 Phase 1 Pilot Program)
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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Reports on the initial results of using a "hub and spoke" model in Georgia to help address rural hospital financial pressures and emergency department overuse. Highlights the progress made by the initial four hub hospitals and the spokes, which included school-based healthcare and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Additional link provides performance metrics for the pilot.
Additional links: Profile for Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee (Data from SFY 2016 Phase 1 Pilot Program)
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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Ensuring Access with a Hospital's Conversion to a Freestanding Emergency Department
Outlines Ellijay, Georgia-based North Georgia Medical Center's transition from a traditional community hospital to a freestanding emergency department (ED). Shares administrative, legal, and logistical challenges that, once overcome, resulted in Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Emergency Services - a successful, community-focused, freestanding ED.
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Rural Health Services
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Outlines Ellijay, Georgia-based North Georgia Medical Center's transition from a traditional community hospital to a freestanding emergency department (ED). Shares administrative, legal, and logistical challenges that, once overcome, resulted in Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Emergency Services - a successful, community-focused, freestanding ED.
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Rural Health Services
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Access To Obstetric Services In Rural Counties Still Declining, With 9 Percent Losing Services, 2004-14
Results of a study identifying gaps in the availability of hospital-based obstetric services in rural America, and providing evidence of disparities in local access to obstetric services in vulnerable rural communities. Includes statistics on percentages of rural counties by status of hospital obstetric services from 2004–14, with breakdowns by micropolitan or noncore location, and a county-level map with shadings indicating full closure, continuous services, or no services.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Carrie E. Henning-Smith, Michelle M. Casey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Affairs, 36(9), 1663-1671
Date: 09/2017
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Results of a study identifying gaps in the availability of hospital-based obstetric services in rural America, and providing evidence of disparities in local access to obstetric services in vulnerable rural communities. Includes statistics on percentages of rural counties by status of hospital obstetric services from 2004–14, with breakdowns by micropolitan or noncore location, and a county-level map with shadings indicating full closure, continuous services, or no services.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Carrie E. Henning-Smith, Michelle M. Casey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Affairs, 36(9), 1663-1671
Date: 09/2017
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Rethinking Rural Hospitals
Discusses the various factors associated with rural hospital closures, and makes the case for adopting new, innovative approaches to rural healthcare delivery.
Author(s): Diana J. Mason
Citation: JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 318(2), 114-115
Date: 07/2017
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Discusses the various factors associated with rural hospital closures, and makes the case for adopting new, innovative approaches to rural healthcare delivery.
Author(s): Diana J. Mason
Citation: JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 318(2), 114-115
Date: 07/2017
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Closure of Hospital Obstetric Services Disproportionately Affects Less-Populated Rural Counties
Policy brief describing a study examining obstetric unit and hospital closures in rural areas of the United States, 2004-2014. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural counties, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy Kozhimannil, Carrie Henning-Smith, Michelle Casey
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing a study examining obstetric unit and hospital closures in rural areas of the United States, 2004-2014. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural counties, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy Kozhimannil, Carrie Henning-Smith, Michelle Casey
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Hospital Environmental Impact Study
Examines the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, particularly as it relates to rural Texas, by focusing on four areas: the state of healthcare, rural hospital closures and vulnerabilities, the impact of the Affordable Care Act, and uninsurance rates. Presents information about the current and future state of healthcare in rural Texas to support rural health policymakers.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals
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Examines the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, particularly as it relates to rural Texas, by focusing on four areas: the state of healthcare, rural hospital closures and vulnerabilities, the impact of the Affordable Care Act, and uninsurance rates. Presents information about the current and future state of healthcare in rural Texas to support rural health policymakers.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals
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Tennessee Hospital Association 2017 Rural Impact Report
Describes hospitals' economic impact on rural Tennessee communities and the effect of hospital closures. Includes county-level statistics on ER visits, births, cost of bad debt and charity care, number of employees, salaries, and total economic impact.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Hospital Association
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Describes hospitals' economic impact on rural Tennessee communities and the effect of hospital closures. Includes county-level statistics on ER visits, births, cost of bad debt and charity care, number of employees, salaries, and total economic impact.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Hospital Association
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What's Next? Practical Suggestions for Rural Communities Facing a Hospital Closure
Presents alternative healthcare solutions for rural Texas communities that are facing a rural hospital closure. Examines the current state of healthcare delivery and outlines the regulatory and legislative obstacles to maintaining rural hospital services. Appendices provide additional information including maps of rural Texas hospital closures, a list of useful resources, reflections from rural hospital leaders, and more.
Date: 2017
Sponsoring organizations: A&M Rural and Community Health Institute, Episcopal Health Foundation
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Presents alternative healthcare solutions for rural Texas communities that are facing a rural hospital closure. Examines the current state of healthcare delivery and outlines the regulatory and legislative obstacles to maintaining rural hospital services. Appendices provide additional information including maps of rural Texas hospital closures, a list of useful resources, reflections from rural hospital leaders, and more.
Date: 2017
Sponsoring organizations: A&M Rural and Community Health Institute, Episcopal Health Foundation
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