Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
2023 Rural-Urban Disparities in Health Care in Medicare
Examines rural/urban differences in the quality of healthcare received by Medicare beneficiaries in 2022, with breakdowns by race and ethnicity. Focuses on patient experience and clinical care measures, including screening for and management of health conditions, medication-related issues, and access to and availability of care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
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Examines rural/urban differences in the quality of healthcare received by Medicare beneficiaries in 2022, with breakdowns by race and ethnicity. Focuses on patient experience and clinical care measures, including screening for and management of health conditions, medication-related issues, and access to and availability of care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
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Study Protocol: Maintaining Preventive Care During Public Health Emergencies Through Effective Coordination
Presents a qualitative study protocol that examines screening rates at VA medical centers during COVID-19 to determine strategies that provide continued care during public health emergencies. Discusses selection of sites, which will be based on rurality, COVID-19 patient caseload, and performance related to cancer and mental health screenings. Highlights the importance of care coordination teams in regard to specialty care.
Author(s): Sylvia J. Hysong, Traber Davis Giardina, Jennifer Freytag, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 4, 150
Date: 11/2023
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Presents a qualitative study protocol that examines screening rates at VA medical centers during COVID-19 to determine strategies that provide continued care during public health emergencies. Discusses selection of sites, which will be based on rurality, COVID-19 patient caseload, and performance related to cancer and mental health screenings. Highlights the importance of care coordination teams in regard to specialty care.
Author(s): Sylvia J. Hysong, Traber Davis Giardina, Jennifer Freytag, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 4, 150
Date: 11/2023
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Improving Behavioral Health Care in the Military Health System: Challenges, Promising Strategies, and Research Directions
Examines behavioral healthcare access for military service members. Discusses strategies for improving behavioral healthcare in the military health system, such as virtual care and quality control measures, with considerations for underserved populations.
Author(s): Kimberly A. Hepner, Carol P. Roth, Nabeel Qureshi, Jessica L. Sousa
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Examines behavioral healthcare access for military service members. Discusses strategies for improving behavioral healthcare in the military health system, such as virtual care and quality control measures, with considerations for underserved populations.
Author(s): Kimberly A. Hepner, Carol P. Roth, Nabeel Qureshi, Jessica L. Sousa
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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The Future of Rural Hospitals and Health Systems
Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Joanne Conroy, M.D., Dartmouth Health president and CEO and the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees' chair-elect. Explores the future of rural hospitals and health systems and possible solutions to providing quality, cost-efficient care in rural communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Joanne Conroy, M.D., Dartmouth Health president and CEO and the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees' chair-elect. Explores the future of rural hospitals and health systems and possible solutions to providing quality, cost-efficient care in rural communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion and Technical Assistance Webinar
Recording of a November 2, 2023, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services. Presentation slides include links to resources and templates. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a November 2, 2023, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services. Presentation slides include links to resources and templates. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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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
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
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Indian Health Service: Many Federal Facilities Are in Fair or Poor Condition and Better Data Are Needed on Medical Equipment
Examines the state of the Indian Health Service's (IHS) federally-operated medical facilities and equipment between January 2022 and November 2023. Describes IHS efforts to mitigate the negative effects aging facilities and equipment may have on patient care. Offers policy recommendations to the Director of IHS regarding equipment planning, acquisition, and management.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the state of the Indian Health Service's (IHS) federally-operated medical facilities and equipment between January 2022 and November 2023. Describes IHS efforts to mitigate the negative effects aging facilities and equipment may have on patient care. Offers policy recommendations to the Director of IHS regarding equipment planning, acquisition, and management.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Nevada Sentinel Events Annual Summary 2022
Report of sentinel events in Nevada healthcare facilities in 2022. Data is presented by facility type, sentinel event type, reporting participation, and patient safety committee activities. Discusses rural representation in the data.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
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Report of sentinel events in Nevada healthcare facilities in 2022. Data is presented by facility type, sentinel event type, reporting participation, and patient safety committee activities. Discusses rural representation in the data.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
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Improving Maternity Care for Indigenous Populations
Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Describes common disparities and systemic barriers Indigenous people experience in maternity care and ways hospitals and healthcare organizations can address these challenges and provide culturally-focused care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Describes common disparities and systemic barriers Indigenous people experience in maternity care and ways hospitals and healthcare organizations can address these challenges and provide culturally-focused care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Evaluation of the Medicare Care Choices Model: Fifth and Final Annual Evaluation Report
Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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