Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health information technology
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
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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
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Health Information Workforce: Survey Results on Workforce Challenges and the Role of Emerging Technologies
Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Leveraging Connected Care Strategies to Expand Rural Access to Healthcare
Recorded video that features a conversation focused on connected healthcare, healthcare access, and the digital divide in rural areas. Discusses the future of virtual care to improve access for rural communities and strategies to alleviate barriers to connected healthcare.
Author(s): Jared Antczak
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Xtelligent Healthcare Media
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Recorded video that features a conversation focused on connected healthcare, healthcare access, and the digital divide in rural areas. Discusses the future of virtual care to improve access for rural communities and strategies to alleviate barriers to connected healthcare.
Author(s): Jared Antczak
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Xtelligent Healthcare Media
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Recovering from a Cybersecurity Attack and Protecting the Future in Small, Rural Health Organizations
Discusses the impact cyber-attacks can have on rural healthcare facilities. Features two Critical Access Hospital leaders describing attacks at their organizations. Shares insights from an information technology compliance expert, including actions organizations can take to protect themselves.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses the impact cyber-attacks can have on rural healthcare facilities. Features two Critical Access Hospital leaders describing attacks at their organizations. Shares insights from an information technology compliance expert, including actions organizations can take to protect themselves.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Environmental Scan on Encouraging Rural Participation in Population-Based TCOC Models
Presents results of an environmental scan regarding population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) payment models and encouraging rural participation in these models. Describes challenges affecting rural patients and providers; opportunities for alternative payment models (APMs) and PB-TCOC models to address challenges in rural areas; trends in rural providers' participation in APMs; driving care delivery transformation in rural providers, including models that include or target rural participants in their model designs; leveraging financial incentives to improve rural health care; adoption and use of health information technology, including telehealth and data analytics among rural providers; and the measurement of rural providers' performance in APMs.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents results of an environmental scan regarding population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) payment models and encouraging rural participation in these models. Describes challenges affecting rural patients and providers; opportunities for alternative payment models (APMs) and PB-TCOC models to address challenges in rural areas; trends in rural providers' participation in APMs; driving care delivery transformation in rural providers, including models that include or target rural participants in their model designs; leveraging financial incentives to improve rural health care; adoption and use of health information technology, including telehealth and data analytics among rural providers; and the measurement of rural providers' performance in APMs.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Implementation of Substance Use Screening in Rural Federally-Qualified Health Center Clinics Identified High Rates of Unhealthy Alcohol and Cannabis Use among Adult Primary Care Patients
Examines the feasibility of integrating electronic health record (EHR) tools into the screening of primary care patients for substance use. Discusses the process of screening 3,749 patients at 3 rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) via EHR-integrated methods and the potential impacts of this screening method on reducing rural primary care provider burden.
Author(s): Jennifer McNeely, Bethany McLeman, Trip Gardner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 18, 56
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Examines the feasibility of integrating electronic health record (EHR) tools into the screening of primary care patients for substance use. Discusses the process of screening 3,749 patients at 3 rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) via EHR-integrated methods and the potential impacts of this screening method on reducing rural primary care provider burden.
Author(s): Jennifer McNeely, Bethany McLeman, Trip Gardner, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 18, 56
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Characteristics of Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals That Experienced a Ransomware Attack from 2016 to 2021
Analyzed short-term acute care hospitals experiencing a ransomware attack between 2016 and 2019 to identify characteristics associated with an attack. Considered variables such as rurality, various financial characteristics, information technology infrastructure, and more. Includes recommendation for future research regarding rural impacts.
Author(s): Claire C. McGlave, Sayeh S. Nikpay, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katie Rydberg, Hannah T. Neprash
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(3)
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Analyzed short-term acute care hospitals experiencing a ransomware attack between 2016 and 2019 to identify characteristics associated with an attack. Considered variables such as rurality, various financial characteristics, information technology infrastructure, and more. Includes recommendation for future research regarding rural impacts.
Author(s): Claire C. McGlave, Sayeh S. Nikpay, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katie Rydberg, Hannah T. Neprash
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(3)
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Social Needs Screening among Non-Federal Acute Care Hospitals, 2022
Examines the extent to which non-federal acute care hospitals collect and receive data on individual patients' health-related social needs using data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Describes how these data are used to promote patient and population health. Includes data on the routine collection of social needs and use of structured screening tools or diagnosis codes by hospital characteristics, including rural location, Critical Access Hospital designation, and size.
Author(s): Wei Chang, Chelsea Richwine
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Examines the extent to which non-federal acute care hospitals collect and receive data on individual patients' health-related social needs using data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Describes how these data are used to promote patient and population health. Includes data on the routine collection of social needs and use of structured screening tools or diagnosis codes by hospital characteristics, including rural location, Critical Access Hospital designation, and size.
Author(s): Wei Chang, Chelsea Richwine
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Indian Health Service: Actions Needed to Improve Use of Data on Adverse Events
Examines how the Indian Health Service (IHS) uses its electronic health record system to monitor healthcare quality and adverse events at federally-operated facilities. Discusses how IHS informs clinicians and patients about options for telehealth use. Offers recommendations to IHS regarding regularly reviewing adverse event trends, making improvements, and disseminating best practices.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines how the Indian Health Service (IHS) uses its electronic health record system to monitor healthcare quality and adverse events at federally-operated facilities. Discusses how IHS informs clinicians and patients about options for telehealth use. Offers recommendations to IHS regarding regularly reviewing adverse event trends, making improvements, and disseminating best practices.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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A Rural Accountable Care Organization's Journey
Profiles South East Rural Physicians Alliance Accountable Care Organization (SERPA‐ACO), a physician‐led ACO consisting of 16 Nebraska clinics - 13 of which are rural. Describes various value-based payment models SERPA-ACO clinics participated in and activities the clinics use to succeed in these models. Includes recommendations for primary care clinics considering joining an ACO.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Profiles South East Rural Physicians Alliance Accountable Care Organization (SERPA‐ACO), a physician‐led ACO consisting of 16 Nebraska clinics - 13 of which are rural. Describes various value-based payment models SERPA-ACO clinics participated in and activities the clinics use to succeed in these models. Includes recommendations for primary care clinics considering joining an ACO.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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