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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality

Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Overview: Vendor Directory
Provides information about the benefits and challenges of implementing a HCAHPS survey process in small rural hospitals, specifically Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes a full directory of vendors currently authorized to perform HCAHPS data collection.
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Quality Improvement in Rural Health Care
Policy position paper regarding challenges rural providers face in participating in quality improvement initiatives. Offers policy recommendations on the establishment and support of rural-relevant quality measures.
Author(s): Michelle Mills, Roger Wells
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Initiatives to Address Rural Health and Health Disparities
Policy brief describing three national Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) value-based initiatives that allow providers to work toward health equity. Provides policy recommendations to design and refine programs to engage rural providers.
Author(s): Andrea Mitchell, Alyssa Meller, Hunter Nostrant
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Small Practice After Action Review: 2021 Performance Year Final Score
Tool for small practices interested in examining their 2021 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score to identify opportunities to improve performance in 2023.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Tool
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Health Policy for Rural Illinois, Data for Policy Development
Provides information on various metrics representing healthcare access, cost, quality, and equity in metro and nonmetro areas of Illinois. Includes further breakdowns of data by White, Hispanic, and Black categories and discusses policy issues related to health disparities in nonmetro areas and for disadvantaged races/ethnicities.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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The Role of Telehealth in Achieving a High Performing Rural Health System: Priorities in a Post-Pandemic System
Presents a review of the potential for expanded use of telehealth in rural America and the use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Examines the uses of telehealth in a high-performing rural health system. Expands on considerations outlined in the October 2020 publication The Evolving Landscape of National Telehealth Policies during a Public Health Emergency: Responsiveness to Rural Needs.
Author(s): Joel M. James, Keith J. Mueller, Joanne Constantin, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Patient Transfers to and from Critical Access Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines inbound and outbound transfer patient volumes among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the barriers and facilitators to transferring patients that CAHs experienced. Compares transfer volume and facilitators for outbound transfers by CAH system ownership status.
Author(s): Abigail Wenninger, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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The State of Rural Healthcare: Research Report and Outlook for 2023
Presents results of a survey of 110 rural healthcare organizations across 25 states regarding their financial health and strategic priorities. Identifies the top challenges identified by the surveyed organizations. Discusses how providers are addressing four strategic priorities, including workforce management, patient experience, financial performance, and digital transformation.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Wipfli, LLP
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Iowa's 2023-2027 State Health Improvement Plan
Provides information on the Healthy Iowans Partnership Steering Committee, public health department accreditation process, state health improvement plan (SHIP) and its phases, and population health metrics. Discusses health equity and improving health outcomes for disadvantaged populations, including rural.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
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Aging on the Farm: Emerging Issues 2020-2021 Evaluation Report
Highlights 4 projects related to aging on the farm. Includes project descriptions, results, and future plans. Project topics include telehealth occupational therapy, data gathering on farmer needs in order to safely age in place, dementia awareness and healthcare quality, and exercise promotion for farmers with Parkinson's disease.
Author(s): Erica Shuck, Devon Charlier
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center
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