Rural Hospitals – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hospitals.
Predictors of Hospital Choice among Rural Patients Seeking Elective Surgery: A Scoping Review
Identifies literature describing determinants of hospital choice among rural patients seeking elective surgery and summarizes data and findings from these studies. Includes considerations for future research on rural hospital bypass.
Author(s): Yuqi Zhang, Tyler Malone, Sarah Cantrell, et al.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Identifies literature describing determinants of hospital choice among rural patients seeking elective surgery and summarizes data and findings from these studies. Includes considerations for future research on rural hospital bypass.
Author(s): Yuqi Zhang, Tyler Malone, Sarah Cantrell, et al.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Rural Hospital Profitability during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Requires Careful Interpretation
Findings brief describing the trend of rural hospital profitability in 2011-19 and explaining why possible increases in reported profitability during the pandemic (2020-21) may mask the long-term financial challenges of rural hospitals. Features statistics including median total margin of all rural hospitals and percentage of rural hospitals with a total negative margin by year from 2011-2021, and estimated distribution of provider relief funding to hospitals as of February 2021, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): George Pink, Susie Gurzenda, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Findings brief describing the trend of rural hospital profitability in 2011-19 and explaining why possible increases in reported profitability during the pandemic (2020-21) may mask the long-term financial challenges of rural hospitals. Features statistics including median total margin of all rural hospitals and percentage of rural hospitals with a total negative margin by year from 2011-2021, and estimated distribution of provider relief funding to hospitals as of February 2021, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): George Pink, Susie Gurzenda, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Since 1990, Rural Hospital Closures Have Increasingly Occurred in Counties that Are More Urbanized, Diverse, and Economically Unequal
Findings brief describing the socioeconomic, demographic, and health system characteristics of rural counties with and without hospital closures between 1990-2020. Features county-level maps showing rural hospital closures by decade, and statistics including percentage of closures by census region, median share of racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic indicators in closure counties, and share of rural counties classified as whole-county Health Professional Shortage Areas prior to closure. Includes a table showing share of counties in Rural-Urban Continuum Code categories 1-9 in 1990, 2003, and 2013.
Author(s): Arrianna Marie Planey, Julie R. Perry, Erin E. Kent, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Findings brief describing the socioeconomic, demographic, and health system characteristics of rural counties with and without hospital closures between 1990-2020. Features county-level maps showing rural hospital closures by decade, and statistics including percentage of closures by census region, median share of racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic indicators in closure counties, and share of rural counties classified as whole-county Health Professional Shortage Areas prior to closure. Includes a table showing share of counties in Rural-Urban Continuum Code categories 1-9 in 1990, 2003, and 2013.
Author(s): Arrianna Marie Planey, Julie R. Perry, Erin E. Kent, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion: Critical Factors for EMS Support
Policy position paper focused on emergency medical services (EMS) in communities with hospitals converting to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status. Outlines barriers to EMS delivery in rural areas including funding, workforce, and community engagement and support. Includes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Julie Bosak, Jed Hansen
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper focused on emergency medical services (EMS) in communities with hospitals converting to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status. Outlines barriers to EMS delivery in rural areas including funding, workforce, and community engagement and support. Includes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Julie Bosak, Jed Hansen
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Pandemic Increases Pressure on Rural Hospitals & Communities: Vulnerability, Health Inequity and Staffing Crisis Amplified in Pandemic's Third Year
Examines the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Discusses disparities between rural and urban communities and communities with hospitals vulnerable to closure. Describes the benefits of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospitals and how scheduled reimbursement cuts and staffing shortages could impact hospitals' financial stability. Also discusses how staffing shortages impact access to obstetrics and chemotherapy care in rural areas.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
view details
Examines the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Discusses disparities between rural and urban communities and communities with hospitals vulnerable to closure. Describes the benefits of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospitals and how scheduled reimbursement cuts and staffing shortages could impact hospitals' financial stability. Also discusses how staffing shortages impact access to obstetrics and chemotherapy care in rural areas.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
view details
The Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), a New Hospital Type
Webinar recording discusses the Rural Emergency Hospital model and how it will affect rural emergency care. Features presentations from representatives of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, the Kansas Health Institute, and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides, Webinar Transcript
Date: 01/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Webinar recording discusses the Rural Emergency Hospital model and how it will affect rural emergency care. Features presentations from representatives of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, the Kansas Health Institute, and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Additional links: Audio Recording, Webinar Slides, Webinar Transcript
Date: 01/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Partnering to Improve Health and Wellbeing via Community Based Care Coordination in Rural Minnesota
Case study featuring Winona Health, an independent, community-owned, and vertically integrated healthcare system serving rural Minnesota. Describes efforts underway to address the social determinants of health in the community through the Winona Wellbeing Collaborative. Also discusses efforts to build intercultural skill throughout the Winona Health organization.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Case study featuring Winona Health, an independent, community-owned, and vertically integrated healthcare system serving rural Minnesota. Describes efforts underway to address the social determinants of health in the community through the Winona Wellbeing Collaborative. Also discusses efforts to build intercultural skill throughout the Winona Health organization.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
"It's the Relationships": Q&A with Peggy Broussard Wheeler
An interview with Peggy Broussard Wheeler, Vice President of Policy at the California Hospital Association. Covers the challenges rural hospitals face during the pandemic, health equity efforts, workforce issues, and more. Discusses how rural hospitals work together to address concerns.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
An interview with Peggy Broussard Wheeler, Vice President of Policy at the California Hospital Association. Covers the challenges rural hospitals face during the pandemic, health equity efforts, workforce issues, and more. Discusses how rural hospitals work together to address concerns.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Rural Hospitals that Closed between 2017‐20: Profitability and Liquidity in the Year Before Closure
Examines the pre-closure profitability and liquidity performance of 56 rural hospitals that closed between January 2017 and August 2020. Compares this data to the median performance of rural hospitals that remained open each year.
Author(s): Andrew S. Osgood, George H. Pink
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Examines the pre-closure profitability and liquidity performance of 56 rural hospitals that closed between January 2017 and August 2020. Compares this data to the median performance of rural hospitals that remained open each year.
Author(s): Andrew S. Osgood, George H. Pink
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
An Enhanced Method for Identifying Hospital-Based Obstetric Unit Status
Results of a study using data from American Hospital Association annual surveys from 2010-2018 to conduct single- and multi-year assessments of obstetric unit status and to identify closures of obstetric units. Compares results obtained through the enhanced method with results of a survey sample of rural hospitals with obstetric units open at the time of the assessment and those with recently closed units.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Sara C. Handley, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Results of a study using data from American Hospital Association annual surveys from 2010-2018 to conduct single- and multi-year assessments of obstetric unit status and to identify closures of obstetric units. Compares results obtained through the enhanced method with results of a survey sample of rural hospitals with obstetric units open at the time of the assessment and those with recently closed units.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Sara C. Handley, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 6/11/2024