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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Hospitals – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hospitals.

The Hospital as a Convener in Rural Communities
Examines the traditional and non-traditional role of rural hospitals as conveners that support community health initiatives and population health. Discusses examples of approaches used by rural and urban serving hospitals from Michigan and Virginia. Offers steps for hospitals on becoming a convener, and suggests community stakeholders for forming partnerships to improve health and well-being in their communities.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Rural and Urban Hospital Characteristics by Obstetric Service Provision Status, 2010-2018
Illustrates the differences between urban and rural hospitals providing obstetric (OB) services. Compares them by size, capacity, location, and community characteristics, and compares these factors between rural hospitals with OB units and those that had discontinued services during the study period. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Additional links: Characteristics of Rural and Urban U.S. Hospitals Based on Obstetric Services
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Lindsay K. Admon, Mariana S. Tuttle, Bridget Basile Ibrahim, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Care Systems COVID-19 Impact Assessment: Lessons Learned and Compelling Needs
Explores the clinical and public health responses and experiences of hospitals and health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents policy actions and policy considerations to leverage the lessons of the pandemic to improve health system financing, infrastructure, and coordination. Includes information on challenges and priority areas for consideration for rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Jeffrey Balser, Jaewon Ryu, Michelle Hood, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Rural Health Potentially Avoidable Utilization (PAU) Dashboard
Interactive dashboard providing information on potentially avoidable utilization at rural hospitals based on 2019 Medicare claims data. Includes data on admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions, hospital readmissions, and potentially avoidable emergency department visits.
Date: 2021
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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Examining Rural Hospital Bypass for Inpatient Services
Explores the drivers of rural hospital bypass for inpatient services. Examines demographic characteristics, why patients bypassed their nearest rural hospital, how the local supply of healthcare services affects rural hospital bypass, and if health insurance networks or cost affect the decision to bypass rural hospitals.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Obstetric Emergencies in Rural Hospitals: Challenges and Opportunities
Describes challenges faced by rural hospitals in offering emergency obstetric care and highlights resources that help rural hospitals respond to obstetric emergencies effectively. Includes a summary of concerns, based on responses to a survey of rural hospitals that do not routinely provide obstetric care.
Author(s): Mariana Story Tuttle, Mary Gilbertson, Julia D. Interrante, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Cybersecurity Insights and Resources for Rural Hospitals
Resources and information to help rural hospitals with cybersecurity risk mitigation.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM)
Provides information on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center's Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), an episode-based alternative payment method in which selected acute care hospitals will coordinate care for patients who undergo certain surgeries. Aims to improve the coordination and transition of care between providers for patients.
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Hospital Price Transparency
Offers resources for healthcare providers and consumers regarding hospital price transparency regulations and policies. Includes links to a GitHub repository of resources for templates and technical instructions and tools to support hospitals in meeting accessibility and machine-readable file requirements.
Additional links: GitHub Repository
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Birthing-Friendly Hospitals and Health Systems
Interactive tool identifying hospitals and health systems that have been designated as "Birthing-Friendly" by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:


Last Updated: 11/14/2024