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Rural Hospitals – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hospitals.

Trends in Revenue Sources among Rural Hospitals
Examines outpatient care as a revenue source for rural hospitals between 2011 and 2019 by analyzing Healthcare Cost Report Information System data from 1,866 rural hospitals. Includes data broken down by rural versus urban, inpatient/outpatient revenue, and hospital payment classification, such as Critical Access Hospital, Medicare-Dependent Hospital, Prospective Payment System, Rural Referral Center, and Sole Community Hospital, among other things.
Author(s): Randall John, Tyler Malone, George Pink
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Association Between Rural Hospital Service Changes and Community Demographics
Investigates possible differences in service availability by local demographics and examines the association between proportion of a rural community belonging to an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-identified priority population and local hospital service changes. Features statistics on changes in healthcare service availability in nonmetro hospitals from 2011-2017, with breakdowns by areas with greater or smaller percentage of the population that is Hispanic/Latino, Black, aged 65 or greater, or in poverty. Also includes statistics on changes in availability of 8 types of services in nonmetro hospitals from 2011-2017.
Author(s): Tyler L. Malone, Kathleen Knocke, George H. Pink, et al.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Comparison of Cancer Treatment Services Across Hospitals
Compares the cancer treatment services available at urban hospitals, rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2017. Highlights the percentage of rural PPS and CAH hospitals that offered comprehensive oncology services in 2008 and 2017. Examines the odds of hospitals offering oncology services based on the distance to the nearest cancer hospital.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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COVID-19 and Hospital Financial Viability in the US
Results of a study comparing operating and profit margins from 2016-2019 at 2,163 hospitals across the country to margins during the first year of the pandemic. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Yang Wang, Ge Bai, Gerard Anderson
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(5)
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
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Strategies for Rural Health Leaders' Success in a Post-COVID-19 World
Playbook for rural hospital leaders to approach COVID-19 response, vaccination, and related public health efforts. Discusses strategies for countering misinformation through partnerships with community institutions, conducting assessments of community vaccination needs, and communications and engagement. Features case studies of hospitals serving rural communities, and offers links to other tools and resources.
Additional links: Webinar: Rural Health Leaders on Strategies for Pandemic and Beyond
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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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
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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
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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
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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
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"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
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Last Updated: 6/11/2024