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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and 30 Day Rehospitalizations: An Analysis of Medicare Data
Examines the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and 30-day rehospitalizations for patients discharged with congestive heart failure, pneumonia, or acute myocardial infarction. Includes data by location of patient residence for small town/rural, large town, suburban, and urban core areas.
Author(s): Amy J.H. Kind, Steve Jencks, Jane Brock, et al.
Citation: Annals of Internal Medicine, 161(11), 765-774
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
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Grantee Directory: Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program, 2013-2016
Provides contact information and a brief overview of the 29 initiatives funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy through the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program in the 2013-2016 funding cycle. The program supports rural primary care providers implementing quality improvement activities, with the goal of promoting the development of an evidence-based culture and delivery of coordinated care in the primary care setting.
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Impact of Home Health Payment Rebasing on Beneficiary Access to and Quality of Care
Measures the impact of base-payment reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act on beneficiary access to and the quality of care provided by home health agencies. Reports findings across geographic area (rural and urban).
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural-Urban Differences in Continuity of Care among Medicare Beneficiaries
Analyzes emerging care and payment models such as patient-centered medical homes, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and bundled payments to identify differences in continuity of care when applied to rural vs. urban settings.
Author(s): Matthew Toth, Caroleen Quach, Mark Holmes
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Utilization of Intensive Care Services, 2011
Provides data on utilization of intensive care services across 29 states. Table 3 provides information on ICU utilization by hospital characteristics, including metropolitan or nonmetropolitan location and hospital designation (Critical Access or teaching).
Author(s): Marguerite L. Barrett, Mark W. Smith, Anne Elixhauser, Leah S. Honigman, Jesse M. Pines
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Advancing the Transition to a High Performance Rural Health System
Identifies the critical components for developing a high performance rural health system. Discusses 4 strategies providers can use to create systems and the public policy implications of these strategies.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Charles Alfero, Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, et al.
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Improving the Emergency Department Discharge Process: Environmental Scan Report
An environmental scan which includes a literature search on emergency department (ED) discharge process. Identifies factors involved with patients at high risk for ED discharge failure and discusses barriers that may hinder the discharge process. Mentions studies that include rural populations, including one rural ED that used group meetings for follow-up care to improve outcomes.
Author(s): Romsai T. Boonyasai, O. Mayowa Ijagbemi, Julius Cuong Pham, et al.
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Observation Care Services for Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Hospitals: Policy Issues and Stakeholder Perspectives
Seeks to provide a greater understanding of rural-specific issues surrounding hospital outpatient observation status and the related implications for rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and Medicare beneficiaries. Results are based on a multi-state, qualitative analysis of input from three respondent groups: state hospital associations, long-term care ombudsman offices, and Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs). Analysis focuses on the use of observation status by Medicare beneficiaries from 2010-2013.
Author(s): Walter Gregg, Samantha Mills, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services Meeting Minutes, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 24-26, 2014
Provides a summary of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Discusses rural-specific aspects of intimate partner violence and the ways telehealth can help improve healthcare access, quality, and value.
Date: 09/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Geographic Variation in Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations for Acute and Chronic Conditions, 2005-2011
Examines potentially preventable hospitalizations for adults from 2005 to 2011. Includes data for acute and chronic conditions by location of patient residence for large and small metropolitan, micropolitan, and remote rural areas.
Author(s): Celeste M. Torio , Roxanne M. Andrews
Date: 09/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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