Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health information technology
CAH Staff Perspectives on use of EHRs for Quality Measure Activities
Summarizes interviews with eight Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) regarding electronic health record (EHR) use for quality measurement and improvement activities. Describes strengths and challenges for CAHs using EHRs for quality-related activities. Discusses the CAHs' readiness for, and concerns about, new health equity and social drivers of health quality measures.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Abigail Wenninger, Dori Cross, Ben C.D. Weideman
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Summarizes interviews with eight Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) regarding electronic health record (EHR) use for quality measurement and improvement activities. Describes strengths and challenges for CAHs using EHRs for quality-related activities. Discusses the CAHs' readiness for, and concerns about, new health equity and social drivers of health quality measures.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Abigail Wenninger, Dori Cross, Ben C.D. Weideman
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
EHR Capabilities and Interoperability in Critical Access Hospitals
Explores the electronic health record (EHR) and interoperable health information exchange capabilities among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2019. Analyzes 2019 American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement (AHAIT) survey data, which includes data from nearly 700 CAHs. Compares EHR capabilities and the use of electronic methods for four interoperability domains by CAH status and system affiliation. Discusses how to support CAHs in advancing information sharing and using comprehensive EHRs.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Alyssa Furukawa, Megan Lahr, Dori Cross
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Explores the electronic health record (EHR) and interoperable health information exchange capabilities among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2019. Analyzes 2019 American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement (AHAIT) survey data, which includes data from nearly 700 CAHs. Compares EHR capabilities and the use of electronic methods for four interoperability domains by CAH status and system affiliation. Discusses how to support CAHs in advancing information sharing and using comprehensive EHRs.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Alyssa Furukawa, Megan Lahr, Dori Cross
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Challenges of EHR "Meaningful Use" in Rural Health Centers
Describes a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control quality improvement initiative to reduce health disparities for people with hypertension and high blood cholesterol in rural areas. Discusses the extent to which rural health centers were able to disaggregate data and report quality measures using electronic health records (EHRs). Highlights barriers to engaging in meaningful use, including rurality, staffing, and financial challenges.
Author(s): Courtney Brightharp, Kristian Myers, Jennifer Mandelbaum
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30, S127-S129
Date: 2024
Type: Document
view details
Describes a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control quality improvement initiative to reduce health disparities for people with hypertension and high blood cholesterol in rural areas. Discusses the extent to which rural health centers were able to disaggregate data and report quality measures using electronic health records (EHRs). Highlights barriers to engaging in meaningful use, including rurality, staffing, and financial challenges.
Author(s): Courtney Brightharp, Kristian Myers, Jennifer Mandelbaum
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30, S127-S129
Date: 2024
Type: Document
view details
Cybersecurity: A Path to Increase Rural Health Care Preparedness
Policy position paper discussing the importance of increasing cybersecurity measures across rural healthcare facilities and organizations. Highlights challenges rural providers face in achieving adequate cybersecurity protections, preparedness, and response. Offers federal and state policy recommendations to support and enhance cybersecurity in rural healthcare settings.
Author(s): Michael Hassell, Jenny Niblock
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper discussing the importance of increasing cybersecurity measures across rural healthcare facilities and organizations. Highlights challenges rural providers face in achieving adequate cybersecurity protections, preparedness, and response. Offers federal and state policy recommendations to support and enhance cybersecurity in rural healthcare settings.
Author(s): Michael Hassell, Jenny Niblock
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Independent Evaluation of Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+): Final Annual Report
Reports on the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) model, a CMS primary care payment and delivery reform effort that ran from 2017-2021. Outlines key findings from the model, including CPC+ supports to practices, care delivery changes made by practices, impacts on outcomes for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, and implications for primary care models. Describes the experiences of payers, practices, health IT vendors, and patients. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 1, Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 2, Findings at a Glance
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
view details
Reports on the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) model, a CMS primary care payment and delivery reform effort that ran from 2017-2021. Outlines key findings from the model, including CPC+ supports to practices, care delivery changes made by practices, impacts on outcomes for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, and implications for primary care models. Describes the experiences of payers, practices, health IT vendors, and patients. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 1, Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 2, Findings at a Glance
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
view details
Cybersecurity Lockdown
Recording of a December 6, 2023, webinar on cybersecurity threats and attacks. Discusses who is after healthcare data, why providers have a professional responsibility to address these threats proactively, and what providers can do today to limit their impact. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Recording of a December 6, 2023, webinar on cybersecurity threats and attacks. Discusses who is after healthcare data, why providers have a professional responsibility to address these threats proactively, and what providers can do today to limit their impact. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Hospitals' Electronic Access to Information Needed to Treat COVID-19
Explores acute care hospitals' ability to access electronic access to information necessary to treat COVID-19 patients in 2021. Examines differences in information availability by hospital characteristics, including rurality and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, and engagement in interoperable exchange.
Author(s): Chelsea Richwine, Jordan Everson, Vaishali Patel
Citation: JAMIA Open, 6(4)
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
view details
Explores acute care hospitals' ability to access electronic access to information necessary to treat COVID-19 patients in 2021. Examines differences in information availability by hospital characteristics, including rurality and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, and engagement in interoperable exchange.
Author(s): Chelsea Richwine, Jordan Everson, Vaishali Patel
Citation: JAMIA Open, 6(4)
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
view details
Disparities in Electronic Health Record Portal Access and Use among Patients with Cancer
Evaluates use of electronic health record (EHR) portal use among adult cancer patients who received treatment at 3 IMPACT cancer research centers, utilizing data extracted in February, 2022. Provides data on EHR portal use and frequency, and identifies associations with factors including sex, age, race and ethnicity, rural dwelling, broadband access, number of clinical encounters, and more.
Author(s): Joan M Griffin, Barbara L Kroner, Sandra L Wong, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2023, djad225
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
Evaluates use of electronic health record (EHR) portal use among adult cancer patients who received treatment at 3 IMPACT cancer research centers, utilizing data extracted in February, 2022. Provides data on EHR portal use and frequency, and identifies associations with factors including sex, age, race and ethnicity, rural dwelling, broadband access, number of clinical encounters, and more.
Author(s): Joan M Griffin, Barbara L Kroner, Sandra L Wong, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2023, djad225
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
Pre-Pandemic Assessment: A Decade of Progress in Electronic Health Record Adoption among U.S. Hospitals
Assessment of trends in electronic health record adoption between 2009 and 2020. Compares hospitals by rurality, size, ownership, and more. Discusses the impacts of COVID-19.
Author(s): John (Xuefeng) Jiang, Kangkang Qi, Ge Bai, Kevin Schulman
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(5)
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
Assessment of trends in electronic health record adoption between 2009 and 2020. Compares hospitals by rurality, size, ownership, and more. Discusses the impacts of COVID-19.
Author(s): John (Xuefeng) Jiang, Kangkang Qi, Ge Bai, Kevin Schulman
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(5)
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
HHS is Taking Action to Strengthen Primary Care
Describes the importance of primary care to improving access to healthcare, the health and well-being of individuals and communities, and health equity. Discusses challenges facing primary care and outlines actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address these challenges. Covers primary care payment, workforce, access, health information technology, and research and practice improvement support.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Describes the importance of primary care to improving access to healthcare, the health and well-being of individuals and communities, and health equity. Discusses challenges facing primary care and outlines actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address these challenges. Covers primary care payment, workforce, access, health information technology, and research and practice improvement support.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details