August 11, 2021
The healthcare delivery model known as the swing bed program has allowed rural and Critical Access Hospitals to serve patients by keeping them in their rural communities for post-acute care. Reviewing the history of this program, experts describe early implementation and key program elements that have sustained its success for over 40 years.
July 15, 2020
Advance care planning — planning for decision-making in times of medical crisis — has always been intended for all people, all ages, with or without a chronic disease. Clinicians talk about the challenges of these conversations now that COVID-19 has nudged planning from the realm of the theoretical future to current reality.
May 20, 2020
Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association's Senior Vice President for Member Services, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on rural America's healthcare organizations.
February 5, 2020
National Rural Health Association CEO Alan Morgan discusses his organization's work on the national and global stages and shares his rural health predictions for 2020.
January 22, 2020
Over 40% of today's physicians are burned out. A closer look at research indicates that not only is this a system problem rather than an individual problem, but that burnout impacts a system's revenue streams, healthcare quality, and patient safety and satisfaction. Experts suggest the problem may even be of more concern in rural areas.
July 26, 2017
William England, PhD, JD, Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, gives a history of telehealth and suggests viewing telehealth as a concept rather than a tool can ensure its future success.
July 26, 2017
Kristi Henderson, DNP, CFNP, CACNP, FAEN, Vice President of Innovation and Virtual Care at Ascension's Texas Ministry, outlines three challenges hindering telehealth's growth: outdated reimbursement models, policies and regulations, and the complexity surrounding telehealth integration.
November 30, 2016
First conceptualized in the 1970s, but not widely adopted in rural communities, freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) have been getting another look as a sustainable rural option. This article discusses hospital-based versus independent FSEDs, the model's financial viability, and highlights two FSEDs meeting their communities' healthcare needs in Arizona and Illinois.
March 2, 2016
As the healthcare industry shifts from volume-to-value, Accountable Care Organizations are gaining in popularity for rural providers. But, there are risks and difficulties that come along with shared savings programs. We asked five rural ACO leaders to share their insights from building their ACOs.
October 14, 2015
A September 2015 meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services discussed the need for rural healthcare providers to be involved in health system changes related to payment and service delivery.
