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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals

Oklahoma Rural Hospital Closures by the Numbers
Research brief discussing rural hospital closures in Oklahoma and impacts of closures on access to care. Presents data on closures between 2005 and 2020, noting driving distance to the nearest open hospital. Addresses demographic characteristics of counties with closed hospitals and health equity impacts of closures.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Advancing Population Health in Rural Places: Key Lessons and Policy Opportunities
Discussion of topics including strategies to incorporate population health into rural health, how collaboration can help rural hospitals address population health issues, how rural healthcare systems can gain community support for population activities, and ways in which the rural healthcare workforce can be involved in population health. Examines various demonstration projects with roots in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Delaney P. Bounds, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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HRSA's Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program: Multi-Site Prospective Cohort Analysis Across Six Rural Emergency Department Telemedicine Networks
Examines Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program (EB TNGP) grantees' provision of telehealth services in rural emergency departments (teleED) in 11 states. Features data and statistics on teleED processes and patients' characteristics, chief complaints, severity of illness, and discharge status.
Author(s): Sarah Heppner, Nicholas M. Mohr, Knute D. Carter, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 16(1), e0243211
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Serving High Need/High Cost Patients in the Emergency Department
Provides an overview of high-need/high-cost (HNHC) patient program design, implementation, operation, and assessment for rural hospitals to improve participant health, reduce emergency department (ED) visits, and decrease hospital charges. Includes links to additional resources and HNHC patient program case studies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Christopher Stamy
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Medicare Severe Wound Care: Spending Declines May Reflect Site of Care Changes; Limited Information Is Available on Quality
Reports on an analysis of where Medicare beneficiaries received care for severe wounds in 2018 and Medicare payment for these services. Provides an overview of the implementation of a dual payment system for long-term care hospitals in 2016, and examines how the dual payment system affected the availability and quality of severe wound care for Medicare beneficiaries. Includes data on severe wound care by facility type in addition to Medicare spending by urban and rural location.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Tele‐ICUs for COVID‐19: A Look at National Prevalence and Characteristics of Hospitals Providing Teleintensive Care
Discusses a study on the prevalence of intensive care unit telemedicine (tele-ICUs) in hospitals across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in rural and Critical Access Hospitals. Compares hospitals by region, ICU beds, and emergency visits, among other measures.
Author(s): Dunc Williams Jr., John Lawrence, Young-Rock Hong, Aaron Winn
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 133-141
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Health Care Delivery Organizations and COVID-19: Major Challenges and Implications for Health Care Management Education and Training
Discusses the curtailing of healthcare management education and training due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Explores ways to enhance connections between universities and rural hospitals to facilitate rural healthcare management training.
Author(s): Steven Howard, Michael Counte, James Mikes, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 249-251
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Treating COVID‐19 in Rural America
Explores the challenges of treating COVID-19 in rural hospitals. Highlights the difficulty of conducting clinical trials to identify an effective treatment for COVID-19 in small rural hospitals.
Author(s): Dima Dandachi, Rebecca Reece, Elizabeth W. Wang, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 205-206
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Ethical and Legal Challenges During the COVID‐19 Pandemic – Are We Thinking About Rural Hospitals?
Discusses the legal framework and ethical decisions hospitals are faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights emergency preparedness planning for rural hospitals with limited workforce and resources.
Author(s): Love Patel, Amy Elliott, Erik Storlie, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 175-178
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Using Telehealth as a Tool for Rural Hospitals in the COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Explores strategies for implementing telehealth services at rural hospitals in response to COVID-19. Discusses how telehealth can be utilized to expand rural hospital capacity, meet the needs of low acuity or recently discharged patients, and limit transfers to tertiary locations.
Author(s): Jeydith Gutierrez, Ethan Kuperman, Peter J. Kaboli
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 161-164
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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