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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Maternal health workforce

Why Are Obstetric Units in Rural Hospitals Closing Their Doors?
Examines factors associated with obstetric unit closure based on a mixed methods study of rural hospitals in 9 states between 2010 and 2014. Addresses hospital characteristics such as accreditation, ownership, and Critical Access Hospital status; distance to next closest hospital with obstetric services; and county-level characteristics including health workforce supply.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Michelle M. Casey, Ira S. Moscovice
Citation: Health Services Research, 51(4), 1546-1560
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
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State Variations in the Rural Obstetric Workforce
Illustrates the challenges affecting the obstetric workforce in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other rural hospitals having at least 10 births in 2010 by analyzing data derived from a telephone survey conducted in 9 states. Includes data for each state on hospital and provider characteristics, and services provided for labor and delivery.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Michelle M. Casey, Carrie Henning-Smith, Shailendra Prasad
Date: 05/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Rural Obstetric Workforce in US Hospitals: Challenges and Opportunities
Details a study of the obstetric workforce and access to obstetric services in rural areas. Analyzes the results of a survey of 306 rural hospitals across the U.S. from November 2013 - March 2014. Discusses possible policy and training modifications for rural hospitals based on the study's conclusions.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Michelle M. Casey, Peiyin Hung, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(4), 365-372
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
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The Obstetric Care Workforce in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Non-CAHs
Examines current obstetric practice models in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other rural hospitals to understand obstetric care services and obstetric workforce issues. Reports on the types of clinicians providing obstetric care in rural hospitals, including obstetricians, family physicians, certified nurse midwives, and general surgeons.
Author(s): Katy Kozhimannil, Michelle Casey, Peiyin Hung, Shailendra Prasad, Ira Moscovice
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Transforming the Workforce to Provide Better Care: The Role of Obstetric Nurse Coordinators in North Carolina
Case study describing how nurses are helping improve prenatal care for high-risk pregnant women via North Carolina's statewide Medicaid Pregnancy Medical Home (PMH) program. Includes a section on support for rural practices participating in the PMH program.
Author(s): Mary Takach, Rachel Yalowich
Date: 09/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP Public Policy Institute, National Academy for State Health Policy
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OB Fellowship Outcomes 1992-2010: Where Do They Go, Who Stops Delivering, and Why?
Analyzes family medicine physicians who completed a fellowship in obstetrics in Tennessee. Examines where they located, career changes, and why some stopped providing maternity care. Identifies a high percentage who practiced in rural areas and spent time as faculty.
Author(s): Wm. MacMillan Rodney, Conchita Martinez, Millard Collins, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 42(10), 712-6
Date: 11/2010
Type: Document
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Malpractice Burden, Rural Location, and Discontinuation of Obstetric Care: A Study of Obstetric Providers in Michigan
Reports on a study that examined whether higher malpractice burden on obstetric providers was associated with an increased likelihood of discontinuing obstetric care and whether there were rural-urban differences in the relationship.
Author(s): Xiao Xu, Kristine A. Siefert, Peter D. Jacobson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 25(1), 33-42
Date: 2009
Type: Document
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Tennessee Health Resource Shortage Areas (HRSA)
Provides county-level maps showing locations of Tennessee state-designated Obstetric, Pediatric, Mental Health, Dental, and Primary Care Health Resource Shortage Areas (HRSAs). Also includes a map of counties with the highest TENNCare enrollee to provider ratios.
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model
Provides information on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center's Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model, which will support participating state Medicaid agencies in the development of a whole-person approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care that addresses the physical, mental health, and social needs experienced during pregnancy. Aims to reduce disparities in maternal healthcare access and treatment, improve outcomes and experiences for mothers and their newborns, and reduce overall program expenditures.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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SC Rural Healthcare Resource Dashboard
Dashboard providing a summary table and interactive maps of public health data for South Carolina by county and zip code. Covers topics including provider distribution, health facilities, demographics, diseases and chronic conditions, health behaviors, healthcare utilization patterns, rural definitions, primary care provider need, obstetric service need, and more.
Type: Database
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
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