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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health information technology

Home is Where the Heart Is: Insights on the Coordination and Delivery of Home Health Services in Rural America
Identifies facilitators and barriers to providing home health services in rural areas, discusses how rural home health services are currently provided, and offers thoughts about the provision of home health services in the future. Addresses electronic health records, reimbursement issues, workforce challenges, value-based payment, and more.
Author(s): Alana Knudson, Britta Anderson, Kellie Schueler, Emily Arsen
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
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Health Information Technology (HIT) Network Readiness Assessment
Self-assessment tool designed to help leaders identify organizational strengths and weaknesses. Helps health professionals determine a starting point for building a successful HIT network.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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The Influence of the Degree of Rurality on EMR Adoption, by Physician Specialty
Study examining the adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) technology based on degree of rurality using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes. Analyzes 2012 data from over 270,000 physician practices on rates of EMR technology adoption and provider specializations. Presents data based on average daily patient volume and type of provider, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Author(s): Brian E. Whitacre
Citation: Health Services Research, 52(2), 616-633
Date: 04/2017
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Evaluation of the Health Care Innovation Awards: Community Resource Planning, Prevention, and Monitoring: Third Annual Report
Third annual evaluations of 24 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on enhancing care coordination and healthcare access through the use of health information technology, care coordination/patient navigation, and health promotion and prevention services. Discusses awardees' progress and impact over the 3-year funding period from 2012 to 2015. Includes profiles of rural-focused projects, as well as projects serving rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Addendum, August 2017
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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A Rural-Urban Comparison of Hospitals Participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program
Examines the history and progression of electronic health record (EHR) usage in rural hospitals across the U.S. Seeks to explain why rural hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), tend to lag behind their urban counterparts in EHR adoption, and makes policy recommendations for improving the meaningful use of EHRs in rural hospitals.
Author(s): Jan Eberth, Sharita R. Thomas
Date: 02/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Which Veterans Enroll in a VA Health Information Exchange Program?
Details a study focusing on the veterans who enroll in the VA's voluntary Health Information Exchange Program, which connects Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data with non-VHA facilities. Breaks down data by age and rural vs. urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): Brian E Dixon, Susan Ofner, Susan M Perkins, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(1), 96-105
Date: 01/2017
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Cybersecurity: How a Rural Alaska Hospital Is Safeguarding Its Patients' Information
Provides an overview of cybersecurity threats and challenges faced by rural healthcare facilities. Describes how the IT staff at the South Peninsula Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in Alaska, safeguards their hospital's data.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Indian Health Service Hospitals: More Monitoring Needed to Ensure Quality Care
Explores concerns about inadequate healthcare quality provided in Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals. Makes recommendations for implementing several oversight measures and identifies problem areas that will need to be addressed in order to improve healthcare quality in IHS hospitals. See companion report: Indian Health Service Hospitals: Longstanding Challenges Warrant Focused Attention to Support Quality Care. Focuses on challenges related to quality reporting, Area Office vacancies, and health information technology.
Date: 10/2016
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Rural Health Information Technology Workforce Curriculum Resources
A collection of curriculum resources educators can adapt to create rural health information technology (HIT) workforce training programs. Developed by Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Rural HIT Workforce Program grantees.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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EHR Contracts Untangled: Selecting Wisely, Negotiating Terms, and Understanding the Fine Print
Acts as a guide for choosing an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and vendor. Discusses safety and security, system performance, data rights, sharing information, risks and liability, vendor dispute resolution, and how to transition to a new EHRs.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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