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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals

Predictors of Hospital Choice among Rural Patients Seeking Elective Surgery: A Scoping Review
Identifies literature describing determinants of hospital choice among rural patients seeking elective surgery and summarizes data and findings from these studies. Includes considerations for future research on rural hospital bypass.
Author(s): Yuqi Zhang, Tyler Malone, Sarah Cantrell, et al.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Sliding Fee Scale Discount Guide for CAHs and RHCs
Provides concepts and guidance to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and Rural Health Clinic (RHC) executives and management teams develop a sliding fee scale discount program. Addresses how these programs relate to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) compliance and participation in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Includes an example of a sliding fee schedule.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Oklahoma Critical Access Hospitals, Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Care
County map showing locations of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), CAH National Health Service Corps Sites, primary care low income designation, and geographic Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in Oklahoma.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Development
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Beyond Patient Care: A Qualitative Study of Rural Hospitals' Role in Improving Community Health
Explores rural hospitals' motivations and strategies to engage in community health improvement efforts. Presents findings from eleven interviews with key informants from 4 Midwestern hospitals and identifies common themes.
Author(s): Mochamad Muska Nataliansyah, Xi Zhu, Thomas Vaughn, Keith Mueller
Citation: BMJ Open, 12(3), e057450
Date: 03/2022
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Indian Health Service: Relief Funding and Agency Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Describes the COVID-19 relief funding for Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal, and urban Indian organization health facilities and how the funds were used to meet immediate and longstanding system needs. Discusses the initial IHS response to the pandemic and steps IHS took to address challenges that its hospitals faced responding to the pandemic.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Three Key Trends for Minnesota Community Hospitals in 2020
Discusses trends for Minnesota Community hospitals in 2020 such as hospital usage, public investments, and staffing. Includes a rural versus urban and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) versus non-CAH comparison of median operating margins of hospitals from 2018 to 2020.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Hospital Community Benefit Spending in Minnesota, 2016 to 2019: A Report to the Minnesota Legislature
Reports on hospital-based and community benefits spending from 2016 to 2019 that promotes health in Minnesota. Includes geographic breakdowns of information according to isolated small rural town, small town, large rural city, and urban.
Additional links: Data Tables
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Rural Hospital Profitability during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Requires Careful Interpretation
Findings brief describing the trend of rural hospital profitability in 2011-19 and explaining why possible increases in reported profitability during the pandemic (2020-21) may mask the long-term financial challenges of rural hospitals. Features statistics including median total margin of all rural hospitals and percentage of rural hospitals with a total negative margin by year from 2011-2021, and estimated distribution of provider relief funding to hospitals as of February 2021, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): George Pink, Susie Gurzenda, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Do Rural Hospitals Have An Advantage During A Pandemic?
Analysis of the challenges, advantages, and policy landscape affecting rural hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses workforce issues, community relationships, and emergency preparedness.
Author(s): Miriam Krikorian Atkinson, John L. Hick, Sara J. Singer, Nicholas V. Cagliuso, Paul D. Biddinger
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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Emergency Department Visit Rates by Selected Characteristics: United States, 2019
Describes emergency department visit rates in 2019 using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Presents data by selected patient characteristics including metropolitan statistical area status, age, sex, race and ethnicity, and health insurance status.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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