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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals

Changes in the Provision of Health Care Services by Rural Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals in 2009 compared to 2017
Findings brief exploring changes in the availability and provision of different health care services among rural Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System hospitals from 2009 to 2017, using data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database. Features statistics with breakdowns by types of services offered, type of hospital, and percentage-point change from 2009 to 2017.
Author(s): Randall John, Kathleen Knocke, Sharita Thomas, et al.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Public Health Preparedness: COVID-19 Medical Surge Experiences and Related HHS Efforts
Discusses the medical surge challenges of eight hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare coalitions have supported the hospitals' efforts. Identifies challenges related to staffing, supplies, space, and information, as well as challenges unique to rural hospitals. Describes Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) programs and activities to support medical surge readiness.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Preparing for and Rebuilding from a Natural Disaster in Graves County, KY
Case study discussing how Jackson Purchase Medical Center (JPMC) and the West Kentucky Healthcare Coalition (WKYHCC) implemented an emergency response plan in the aftermath of a December 2021 tornado. Discusses the regional emergency preparedness plan and its effectiveness, as well as JPMC's expansion of employee assistance and behavioral health services to meet community needs.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Improving Access and Quality of Maternal and Infant Services in Rural Iowa through a Regional Center of Excellence
Profiles St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa, which serves six counties in west central Iowa. Discusses the hospital's efforts to improve maternal health and birth outcomes, including improving care coordination, increasing access to support and behavioral health services, and promoting better access to care in the region.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Environmental Scan on Consolidation Trends and Impacts in Health Care Markets
Summarizes results of an environmental scan and describes the landscape of healthcare market consolidation across the United States. Analyzes the evidence on consolidation trends and the impacts of these trends on price, quality, and access in healthcare provider and insurance markets. Includes information on the impacts of hospital consolidation on rural healthcare quality and patient access.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Spatial Access to Hospital-Based Obstetric Units in Minoritized Racial/Ethnic Areas
Documents geographic accessibility and travel burdens for obstetric care based on local minoritized racial/ethnic group (MRG) distributions at the ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) level. Features statistics with breakdowns by race or ethnicity and urban or rural ZCTA, and maps showing geographic distribution of ZCTAs meeting the 95th percentile threshold, locations of hospital-based obstetric units across top MRG ZCTAs in 2019, and driving distances to a hospital obstetric unit by MRG classification.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Gabriel Benavidez, Melinda A. Merrell, et al.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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2022 Key Rural Measures: An Updated List of Measures to Advance Rural Health Priorities
Report updating a list of key rural measures focused on rural access to care originally outlined in A Core Set of Rural-Relevant Measures and Measuring and Improving Access to Care: 2018 Recommendations from the MAP Rural Health Workgroup. Identifies 17 measures to add to the 2018 list of rural measures, including items related to behavioral and mental health, substance use, infectious disease, access to care, and equity and social determinants of health. Discusses remaining gaps in measurement topic areas.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Staffing Hurdles Chip Away at Access to Care
Summarizes the results of a survey of rural hospital leaders between March 2-April 15, 2022. Explores how rural hospitals are navigating COVID-19 vaccination mandates and the continued impact of nurse staffing shortages on the delivery of care. Discusses drivers of nurse turnover at rural hospitals.
Author(s): Michael Topchik, Troy Brown, Melanie Pinette, Billy Balfour
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Hospitals and Maternal Health in Rural America, with John Supplitt, Aisha Syeda, Virginia Uhlenkamp, and Ashleigh Wiederin
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast discussing the role of rural hospitals in maternal health. Features John Supplitt and Aisha Syeda from the American Hospital Association, and Virginia Uhlenkamp and Ashleigh Wiederin from St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The Most Rural Counties Have the Fewest Health Care Services Available
Examines healthcare resources in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas, with information on availability of healthcare facilities, bed-to-population ratios, provider-to-population ratios, and health professional shortage areas.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, Jessica E. Todd
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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