This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality

Population Health Outcome Measurement Strategies for State Flex Programs
Presents a framework for population health outcome measurement strategies for State Flex Programs (SFPs). Outlines a series of sequential steps, including identifying the needs to be addressed, educational programming, developing shared learning collaboratives/cohorts to support performance improvement, and implementing interventions. Offers practical examples of population health improvement performance improvement activities with short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes to document program impact over time.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Emergency Medical Services Outcome Measurement Strategies for State Flex Programs
Presents a framework regarding emergency medical services (EMS) outcome measurement for State Flex Programs (SFPs). Outlines a series of sequential steps, including identifying the needs to be addressed, educational programming, developing shared learning collaboratives/cohorts to support performance improvement, and implementing interventions. Offers practical examples of EMS performance improvement activities with short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Kenneth Rosati
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
The Other Side of Rural Health Care
Podcast episode with Terry Scoggin, CEO of Titus Regional Medical Center in northeast Texas, discussing how the hospital uses innovative data to understand and meet the needs of its community.
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Quality Time: Sharing PIE - Fall Prevention Strategies
Podcast episode discussing how two quality improvement leaders implemented fall prevention strategies at their Critical Access Hospitals. Describes different strategies to identify and reduce fall risks.
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
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
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
2021 Quality Payment Program Experience Report
Reports on the clinician experience for those participating in the Quality Payment Program in 2021. Presents data on Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility and participation rates for clinicians in small practices and rural areas, as well as their mean payment adjustment scores.
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Delta Region Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) Program: Revenue Cycle Management Best Practices Guide
Offers rural hospital executives and management teams best practice concepts in revenue cycle management by assisting them in identifying performance improvement within their hospitals and departments. Provides State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) directors and Flex Program coordinators a better understanding of the revenue cycle best practices to help them design educational training programs to support rural hospital administrators with performance improvement.
Additional links: Check List
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organizations: BKD CPAs & Advisors, National Rural Health Resource Center
view details
2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Includes a discussion of disparities encountered by race/ethnicity and geographic locations along the rural-urban continuum. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, affordability, healthy living, and effective treatment.
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
view details
Nursing Home Staffing Study: Comprehensive Report
Examines the level and type of staffing needed to promote acceptable nursing home quality and safety. Explores the potential implications and feasibility of increased staffing and costs to nursing homes. Presents four options for minimum staffing requirements and their cost, quality, and safety impacts. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Literature Review Results Table, State Minimum Staffing Requirement
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
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
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details