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Rural Health Information Hub

Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).

Financial Guide for the Rural Health Care Leaders During COVID and Post-COVID
Highlights strategies for addressing the financial challenges RHCs and CAHs may face during and after a public health emergency such as COVID-19. Discusses how rural providers can improve financial performance in the face of lower inpatient and outpatient volumes, fewer elective surgeries, and the added cost of PPE, ventilators, and staff, among others. Details indicators of financial stress and recommends corresponding strategies.
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Delta Region Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) Program: Revenue Cycle Management Best Practices Guide
Offers rural hospital executives and management teams best practice concepts in revenue cycle management by assisting them in identifying performance improvement within their hospitals and departments. Provides State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) directors and Flex Program coordinators a better understanding of the revenue cycle best practices to help them design educational training programs to support rural hospital administrators with performance improvement.
Additional links: Check List
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: BKD CPAs & Advisors, National Rural Health Resource Center
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The Swing Bed Program: Impacting Patients, Providers, and Community
Brief video overview of the swing bed program, which helps rural hospitals provide patient- and community-centric post-acute healthcare. Describes the history, related policy issues, early implementation, and evolution of the program.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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History of the Swing Bed: A Look Through the Rural Rearview Mirror
Reviews the history of the swing bed program, which helps rural hospitals serve patients and the community through provision of post-acute care. Shares insights from experts who describe early implementation and key program elements that have contributed to the program's success.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Understanding the Rural Swing Bed: More than Just a Reimbursement Policy
Provides an overview of the swing bed program and its role as a patient-centric post-acute care solution that helps rural hospitals serve their communities. Discusses the impact of the program, reimbursement, quality measures, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Delta Region Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) Program: 340B Drug Pricing Program Guide
Provides rural hospital administrators with information regarding the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Offers State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) directors and Flex Program coordinators a better understanding of the process hospitals must abide by to participate in the 340B Program.
Author(s): BKD CPAs & Advisors
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Mid-Level Leaders and the Transition to Value Video Series
A 6-part video series on healthcare leadership for mid-level Critical Access Hospital (CAH) leaders. Provides information and strategies on leading a team through the shift to value-based payment with training modules on strategic and systems thinking, collaborative and change leadership, healthcare finance, and talent development.
Additional links: Action Plan, Discussion Questions and Recommended Activities, Resource Guide
Date: 05/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Technical Assistance and Services Center
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Interpreting MBQIP Hospital Data Reports for Quality Improvement
Designed to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) staff use Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) Hospital Data Reports to support quality improvement efforts and improve patient care in their facility. Includes examples of how to interpret MBQIP reports, links to additional resources, and a glossary of keywords.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Evaluation of the Use of CAH Cohorts for Quality Improvement Activities
Describes how State Flex Programs (SFPs) use cohorts of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in quality improvement initiatives. Discusses the benefits and challenges of CAH cohorts, how SFPs are evaluating the impact of these initiatives, and opportunities to enhance the use of cohorts in Flex Program activities. Includes findings from interviews with six SFPs.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Innovations and Workforce Challenges for CAHs during COVID-19
Presents results from a survey of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) on hospital operation and workforce adaptations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses innovative practices adopted by CAHs related to hospital processes and clinical care. Describes how CAHs overcame workforce challenges during COVID-19.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Keelia Silvis, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Last Updated: 5/8/2024