Rural Healthcare Quality – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Healthcare Quality.
Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Measurement Recommendations Report
Provides an overview of two measurement frameworks, one for maternal morbidity and one for maternal mortality. Includes a list of short- and long-term recommendations for each measurement topic, which cover equitable treatment; timely access to treatment and services; follow-up and care coordination of care; protocols and guidelines; substance use disorders, mental health, and behavioral health; access to pain management and labor support; and patient- and family-reported outcomes and experiences of care. Discusses three potential, actionable measure concepts for maternal mortality.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Provides an overview of two measurement frameworks, one for maternal morbidity and one for maternal mortality. Includes a list of short- and long-term recommendations for each measurement topic, which cover equitable treatment; timely access to treatment and services; follow-up and care coordination of care; protocols and guidelines; substance use disorders, mental health, and behavioral health; access to pain management and labor support; and patient- and family-reported outcomes and experiences of care. Discusses three potential, actionable measure concepts for maternal mortality.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Place Matters: Closing the Gap on Rural Primary Care Quality Improvement Capacity - The Healthy Hearts Northwest Study
Compares the primary care practices in rural and urban settings in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Looks at quality improvement capacity, performance metrics, and workforce issues, among other measures.
Author(s): Lyle J. Fagnan, Katrina Ramsey, Caitlin Dickinson, et al.
Citation: The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 34 (4), 753-761
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
view details
Compares the primary care practices in rural and urban settings in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Looks at quality improvement capacity, performance metrics, and workforce issues, among other measures.
Author(s): Lyle J. Fagnan, Katrina Ramsey, Caitlin Dickinson, et al.
Citation: The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 34 (4), 753-761
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
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
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
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
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Grantee Directory: Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program, 2019-2022
Provides contact information and a brief overview for 32 initiatives funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy through the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program in the 2019-2022 funding cycle. The program supports rural primary care providers implementing quality improvement activities, with the goal of promoting the development of an evidence-based culture and delivery of coordinated care in the primary care setting.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Provides contact information and a brief overview for 32 initiatives funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy through the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program in the 2019-2022 funding cycle. The program supports rural primary care providers implementing quality improvement activities, with the goal of promoting the development of an evidence-based culture and delivery of coordinated care in the primary care setting.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Related funding:
Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 10/30/2024