Rural Healthcare Quality – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Healthcare Quality.
Leveraging Quality Measurement to Improve Rural Health, Telehealth, and Healthcare System Readiness: Final Environmental Scan Report
Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE - Using "Small Data" to Drive Big Improvements
Podcast episode exploring how two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) leaders utilize data for quality improvement. Discusses how different kinds of data have informed quality improvement initiatives and considerations for analyzing data in low-volume contexts.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Podcast episode exploring how two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) leaders utilize data for quality improvement. Discusses how different kinds of data have informed quality improvement initiatives and considerations for analyzing data in low-volume contexts.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Serving High Need/High Cost Patients in the Emergency Department
Provides an overview of high-need/high-cost (HNHC) patient program design, implementation, operation, and assessment for rural hospitals to improve participant health, reduce emergency department (ED) visits, and decrease hospital charges. Includes links to additional resources and HNHC patient program case studies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Christopher Stamy
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Provides an overview of high-need/high-cost (HNHC) patient program design, implementation, operation, and assessment for rural hospitals to improve participant health, reduce emergency department (ED) visits, and decrease hospital charges. Includes links to additional resources and HNHC patient program case studies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Christopher Stamy
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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How to Design Value‐based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report
Summarizes a July 2020 virtual summit of rural participants in value‐based care (VBC) models and programs. Details six themes on VBC model design, implementation, and operation that can influence rural organization participation in VBC models. Provides recommendations for VBC model designers to improve rural healthcare provider participation and success in VBC models.
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Clint MacKinney, Jennifer Lundblad, Karla Weng
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes a July 2020 virtual summit of rural participants in value‐based care (VBC) models and programs. Details six themes on VBC model design, implementation, and operation that can influence rural organization participation in VBC models. Provides recommendations for VBC model designers to improve rural healthcare provider participation and success in VBC models.
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Clint MacKinney, Jennifer Lundblad, Karla Weng
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health
Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Healthy Women, Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Futures: Action Plan to Improve Maternal Health in America
Action plan outlining steps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities that endanger women before, during, and following pregnancy. Four main goals include: improving prevention and treatment services to promote positive health outcomes for every woman of reproductive age; prioritizing quality improvement efforts to support healthy pregnancies and births; improving postpartum health; and enhancing data and research to inform future interventions. Includes data and statistics on maternal health and morbidity, and addresses rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Dawn Alley, Andre Chappel, Nancy De Lew, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Action plan outlining steps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities that endanger women before, during, and following pregnancy. Four main goals include: improving prevention and treatment services to promote positive health outcomes for every woman of reproductive age; prioritizing quality improvement efforts to support healthy pregnancies and births; improving postpartum health; and enhancing data and research to inform future interventions. Includes data and statistics on maternal health and morbidity, and addresses rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Dawn Alley, Andre Chappel, Nancy De Lew, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Rural-Relevant Quality Measures for Testing of Statistical Approaches to Address Low Case-Volume
Describes 15 rural-relevant quality measures susceptible to low case-volume challenges that could be used to test statistical approaches designed to address this problem. Discusses reporting challenges and gaps in rural health care quality measurement.
Additional links: Final List: Rural-Relevant Quality Measures for Future Testing of Technical Expert Panel (TEP) Recommended Statistical Approaches
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Describes 15 rural-relevant quality measures susceptible to low case-volume challenges that could be used to test statistical approaches designed to address this problem. Discusses reporting challenges and gaps in rural health care quality measurement.
Additional links: Final List: Rural-Relevant Quality Measures for Future Testing of Technical Expert Panel (TEP) Recommended Statistical Approaches
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Williamson Health and Wellness Center: Williamson, WV
Highlights a Community-Driven Health Equity Action Plan as implemented by the Williamson Health and Wellness Center in West Virginia. Details the goals and focus of the program.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Highlights a Community-Driven Health Equity Action Plan as implemented by the Williamson Health and Wellness Center in West Virginia. Details the goals and focus of the program.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Gorge Health Equity Collaborative: Columbia Gorge Region, OR and WA
Presents a Community-Driven Health Equity Action Plan as implemented by the Gorge Health Equity Collaborative in Washington and Oregon. Highlights health and healthcare access of children and adults in the Columbia Gorge region.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Presents a Community-Driven Health Equity Action Plan as implemented by the Gorge Health Equity Collaborative in Washington and Oregon. Highlights health and healthcare access of children and adults in the Columbia Gorge region.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Assessment of Rural-Urban Differences in Postacute Care Utilization and Outcomes Among Older US Adults
Results of a study of 2,044,231 Medicare beneficiaries who were hospitalized in 2011-2015 for pneumonia, stroke, heart failure, hip fracture, or COPD. Examines the frequency, type, and duration of postacute care, as well as readmission and mortality rates in people discharged to a community or to postacute care. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban area, rural community adjacent to urban area, or rural community nonadjacent to urban area.
Author(s): Cyrus M. Kosar, Lacey Loomer, Nasim B. Ferdows, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(1)
Date: 01/2020
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Results of a study of 2,044,231 Medicare beneficiaries who were hospitalized in 2011-2015 for pneumonia, stroke, heart failure, hip fracture, or COPD. Examines the frequency, type, and duration of postacute care, as well as readmission and mortality rates in people discharged to a community or to postacute care. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban area, rural community adjacent to urban area, or rural community nonadjacent to urban area.
Author(s): Cyrus M. Kosar, Lacey Loomer, Nasim B. Ferdows, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(1)
Date: 01/2020
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Last Updated: 2/25/2025