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Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) – Resources

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

Frontier Community Health Integration Project (FCHIP) Demonstration Evaluation: Final Evaluation Report
Presents findings from an evaluation of the Frontier Community Health Integration Project (FCHIP) Demonstration. Describes the three possible interventions, including their impact, progress and accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned. Identifies commonalities that emerged across the FCHIP interventions that may inform future demonstrations among rural healthcare providers.
Additional links: Findings At-A-Glance
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Activities in Critical Access Hospitals
Recording of a November 18, 2020, webinar that covers the implementation of antibiotic stewardship (AS) activities. Discusses the 2019 National Healthcare Safety Network Survey results and examines challenges Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) face reporting and implementing AS measures. Provides practical suggestions for improving AS activities in CAHs. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Visionary Board Leadership and the Transition to Value Video Series
A 6-part video series on healthcare leadership for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) board members. Details best practices for CAH leadership through training modules that include hospital board interviews, discussion questions, and example activities to use in the development of long-term visioning plans.
Date: 07/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Technical Assistance and Services Center
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Estimated Reduction in CAH Profitability from Loss of Cost-Based Reimbursement for Swing Beds
Examines the impact of proposed legislation recommending changes to swing bed reimbursements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) from cost-based to the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS). Estimates CAH profitability using reimbursement formulas from Medicare cost reports and discusses the characteristics of CAHs most affected by a change in swing bed reimbursement.
Author(s): Drake M. Broussard, Kristin L. Reiter
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Best Practices from 14 CAH Executives Operating in Challenging Environments
Summarizes findings from interviews with Critical Access Hospital (CAH) chief executive officers about daily operations, forecasting, and community health outcomes. Identifies best practices of leaders of CAHs with low financial risk despite operating in challenging environments.
Author(s): Shartia R. Thomas, Kristin Reiter, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Report to Congress: Demonstration Project on Community Health Integration Models in Certain Rural Counties - Final Report
Presents findings from the Frontier Community Health Integration Project Demonstration (FCHIP) demonstration project over the 3-year project period. Shares results for the 10 participating Critical Access Hospitals in three states: North Dakota, Montana, and Nevada. The demonstration focused on interventions addressing ambulance services, skilled nursing facility/nursing facility beds, and telehealth. Offers recommendations for legislative and administrative action.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Critical Access Hospital Governing Board Manual: Volume III
Written with governing board members in mind, addresses several pressing issues facing Critical Access Hospital (CAH) governing boards. Builds on the material found in the Governing Board Manual: Volume I and Critical Access Hospital Governing Board Manual: Volume II, and focuses on the following topic areas: the board member's role, quality and fiduciary responsibilities, strategic and community initiatives, and the future of rural healthcare.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
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Post-Acute Care Virtual Summit
Summarizes a May 2020 virtual summit of key stakeholders that examines the state of post-acute care (PAC) in rural America. Discusses issues, challenges, and strategies related to the integration of rural acute and post-acute care. Explores how state Flex Programs can help rural providers address PAC. Includes a collection of PAC best practices.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Stroudwater Associates
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CAH Participation in Flex Financial and Operational Improvement Activities, 2015–2018
Examines patterns of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) participation in activities funded by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program. Looks at CAHs' participation in financial and operational improvement activities, with information by various hospital characteristics including risk of financial distress.
Author(s): Kathleen Knocke, Kristin Reiter, George H. Pink
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Antibiotic Stewardship Implementation: Suggested Strategies from High Performing Critical Access Hospitals
Describes antibiotic stewardship (AS) best practices identified through focus groups of 34 high performing Critical Access Hospitals across 25 states. Provides an overview of focus group findings on the seven core elements of hospital AS and identifies recurring themes.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Last Updated: 6/13/2024