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Rural Hospitals – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hospitals.

Key Considerations for a Rural Hospital Assessing Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital
Offers a conceptual framework of key considerations for rural hospitals contemplating conversion to a rural emergency hospital (REH). Covers financial feasibility, workforce, community impact, partnerships, and regulatory considerations.
Author(s): Kristin Reiter, TJ Grant, Susie Gurzenda, et al.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Use of Leading Practices in US Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs
Highlights a study exploring the portion of acute-care hospitals that have implemented best practices in their antimicrobial stewardship programs. Features data compiled from electronic questionnaires to program leaders on the implementation of 6 leading antimicrobial practices. Breaks down data by hospital size, teaching status, and whether the hospital is located in a rural or urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Edward A. Stenehjem, Barbara I. Braun, Salome O. Chitavi, et al.
Citation: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 1-8
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
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Changes in Access to Nearest Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics Among Rural ZIP Codes That Did and Did Not Experience a Hospital Closure, 2006-2018
Findings brief exploring changes in geographic accessibility within rural ZIP codes to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) between 2016-18. Compares changes in access to services within rural counties that experienced the loss of its nearest hospital to changes in access within rural counties that never experienced a hospital closure. Features county-level maps showing changes in distance to nearest FQHCs and RHCs for rural ZIP codes and statistics on estimated percentage point changes in access to FQHCs and RHCs from 2016-2018.
Author(s): Nathaniel Bell, Peiyin Hung, Sylvia Shi, Elizabeth Crouch, Jan M. Eberth
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Suicide and Self-Harm in Youth Presenting to a US Rural Hospital During COVID-19
Presents a study on rural emergency department utilization and hospital admission for suicide or self-harm in children ages 5 to 17 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes hospital data from January 2017 to May 2021. Breaks down data by demographic factors, such as race, gender, and rurality, as well as length of stay and visit type, among other measures.
Author(s): Mary Arakelyan, Jennifer A. Emond, JoAnna K. Leyenaar
Citation: Hospital Pediatrics, 12(10), e336–e342
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
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Review of Rural U.S. Economic and Health Care Trends
Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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Availability of Hospital-Based Emergency Department and Trauma Services in Minoritized Racial/Ethnic Group Areas
Explores the availability of hospital-based emergency department and trauma services nationwide across ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) categorized by rurality and racial and ethnic composition. Provides data on the median distance to the nearest emergency department and trauma service by rurality in minoritized and non-minoritized ZCTA and the percent of ZCTAs more than 30 miles from emergency department and trauma services by Census region.
Author(s): Nabil Natafgi, Peiyin Hung, Whitney E. Zahnd, et al.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Rural Hospital Closures Threaten Access: Solutions to Preserve Care in Local Communities
Provides an overview of rural hospital closures between 2010-2021. Discusses rural demographics and outlines trends affecting rural hospital financial sustainability, including patient volume and health, reimbursement, staffing shortages, COVID-19, new models of care, and more.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Providing High-Quality Support to Pregnant People and Their Families in Racially Diverse Rural Communities
Presents a series of case studies of how hospitals and health systems with obstetric units in racially diverse rural communities work to meet patient needs and provide evidence-based, supportive services during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Highlights communities in Colorado, Alaska, and Texas and discusses key features of programs at hospitals or health systems in each area.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Phoebe Chastain, Hailey Baker, Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Bridget Basile Ibrahim
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Changes in the Provision of Health Care Services by Rural Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals in 2009 compared to 2017
Findings brief exploring changes in the availability and provision of different health care services among rural Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System hospitals from 2009 to 2017, using data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database. Features statistics with breakdowns by types of services offered, type of hospital, and percentage-point change from 2009 to 2017.
Author(s): Randall John, Kathleen Knocke, Sharita Thomas, et al.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Public Health Preparedness: COVID-19 Medical Surge Experiences and Related HHS Efforts
Discusses the medical surge challenges of eight hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare coalitions have supported the hospitals' efforts. Identifies challenges related to staffing, supplies, space, and information, as well as challenges unique to rural hospitals. Describes Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) programs and activities to support medical surge readiness.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Last Updated: 10/16/2024