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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Surgery

Effects of Rural Hospital Closures on Nurse Staffing Levels and Health Care Utilization at Nearby Hospitals
Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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High-Risk Rural Surgical Patients and Poor Access to Elective Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Insight for Multilevel Intervention for Rural America
Examines factors associated with poor access to elective colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery for rural patients, utilizing 2007-2020 National Inpatient Sample data for 69,212 CRC surgery-related hospitalizations. Breaks down data by race and ethnicity, sex, age, insurance type, region, rural or urban facility, and other demographic, clinical, and facility factors. Discusses access barriers and health disparities experienced by rural populations.
Author(s): Yanick Tadé, Jillian Timperley, Danielle Dilsaver, et al.
Citation: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 28(11), 1883-1889
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Trends in the Health Workforce Supply in the Rural U.S.
Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Interfacility Transfer of Children With Time-Sensitive Surgical Conditions, 2002-2017
Explores changes in the number of interfacility transfers and travel distance for children with four time-sensitive surgical conditions across nine states between 2002 and 2017. Examines whether the changes in transfers and travel distance varied by patients' urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Kyle J. Van Arendonk, Elisabeth T. Tracy, Jonathan S. Ellison, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(10), e2440251
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
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Travel Burden and Bypassing Closest Site for Surgical Cancer Treatment for Urban and Rural Oncology Patients
Examines travel burden to surgical cancer care and its relationship to rurality, bypassing of the nearest surgical site, and mortality rates. Analyzes 2016-218 data of 211,025 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and includes breakdowns for type of cancer, surgery versus no surgery, patient demographics, patient health conditions, travel time, mortality rates, and location of metro, micro, or small town/rural.
Author(s): Tracy Onega, Niveditta Ramkumar, Gabriel A. Brooks, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
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Surgeon and Care Team Network Measures and Timely Breast Cancer Treatment
Presents a study exploring patient-sharing network characteristics associated with delays in treatment for breast cancer patients. Discusses factors that affect surgeon and care team patient-sharing networks that can lead to delays in surgeries and post-surgical treatments. Highlights the role rurality plays in the structure and delays within patient-sharing networks.
Author(s): Ramsey Ash, Bruno T. Scodari, Andrew P. Schaefer, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2427451
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Use of Telehealth to Improve Healthcare Access and Outcomes in Surgical Oncology
Explores the role of telehealth in improving healthcare access and outcomes in surgical oncology. Discusses geographic barriers to surgical oncology interventions how telehealth can help mitigate barriers to access. Highlights strategies to improve telehealth access and adoption.
Author(s): Elliot A. Asare, Lauren Cowan, Tracy Onega
Citation: Journal of Surgical Oncology
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Can ERAS Help Reduce Health Disparities and Overcome Barriers to Equitable Surgical Care in Marginalized Communities?
Discusses the value of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols in rural and marginalized communities. Identifies barriers to access and proposes strategies to increase equity. Highlights aspects of ERAS implementation including pediatrics, health literacy, communication with patients and among providers, telehealth, and more.
Author(s): Chirag Ram, Ruoying Li, Andrew D. Franklin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Pediatric Surgery Open, 7, 100141
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Directory of Mississippi Health Facilities
Directory of Mississippi health facilities with address, phone number, and accreditation status if applicable, current as of April 30, 2024. Includes a list of rural health facilities on pages 87-98.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Directory
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi State Department of Health
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Survival Disparities in Rural Versus Urban Patients with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Multi-Institutional Study from the US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group
Compares overall survival of 1176 rural and urban patients who underwent pancreatic neoendocrine tumor (PNET) resection between 2000 and 2016, utilizing US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group data. Includes data on tumor pathology and patient management factors. Discusses barriers to care after PNET diagnosis for rural populations.
Author(s): Muhammad Bilal Mirza, Jordan J. Baechle, Paula Marincola Smith, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Surgery, 233, 125-131
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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