Rural Hospitals – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hospitals.
Where and What Separates Rural from Urban Hospital Closures?
A brief report that compares characteristics of rural and metro hospital closures. Utilizes 2010-2021 American Hospital Association Annual Survey data to examine rural versus metro hospital closures by hospital bed size, hospital type, accreditation status, location in Medicaid expansion state, and more.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Jennifer Lom, Mohammed K. Ali
Citation: Journal of Hospital Medicine, 19(9), 812-815
Date: 09/2024
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A brief report that compares characteristics of rural and metro hospital closures. Utilizes 2010-2021 American Hospital Association Annual Survey data to examine rural versus metro hospital closures by hospital bed size, hospital type, accreditation status, location in Medicaid expansion state, and more.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Jennifer Lom, Mohammed K. Ali
Citation: Journal of Hospital Medicine, 19(9), 812-815
Date: 09/2024
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Research Insights: How Do Ransomware Attacks Impact Rural Hospitals?
Provides an overview of a study regarding the likelihood of ransomware attacks on, and the degree to which such attacks result in operational disruptions at, urban and rural hospitals. Describes how the findings of this study can inform cybersecurity regulations and protocols in rural settings.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation
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Provides an overview of a study regarding the likelihood of ransomware attacks on, and the degree to which such attacks result in operational disruptions at, urban and rural hospitals. Describes how the findings of this study can inform cybersecurity regulations and protocols in rural settings.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation
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Provision of Stroke Care Services by Community Disadvantage Status in the US, 2009-2022
Results of a study of 5,055 hospitals, examining the association of community socioeconomic disadvantage with likelihood of nearby hospitals adopting stroke center certification from 2009-2022. Features statistics including hospital characteristics during the study period, with breakdown by rural location.
Author(s): Renee Y. Hsia, Nandita Sarkar, Yu-Chu Shen
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(7), e2421010
Date: 07/2024
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Results of a study of 5,055 hospitals, examining the association of community socioeconomic disadvantage with likelihood of nearby hospitals adopting stroke center certification from 2009-2022. Features statistics including hospital characteristics during the study period, with breakdown by rural location.
Author(s): Renee Y. Hsia, Nandita Sarkar, Yu-Chu Shen
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(7), e2421010
Date: 07/2024
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The Low-Volume Hospital Adjustment Before and During COVID-19
Describes characteristics of rural low-volume hospitals (LVHs) between April 2018 and March 2022. Compares the characteristics and profitability of rural LVHs with other rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents data on LVH profitability margins with and without the LVH payment adjustment.
Author(s): Emmaline Keesee, Susie Gurzenda, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Describes characteristics of rural low-volume hospitals (LVHs) between April 2018 and March 2022. Compares the characteristics and profitability of rural LVHs with other rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents data on LVH profitability margins with and without the LVH payment adjustment.
Author(s): Emmaline Keesee, Susie Gurzenda, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Disruptors, Essential Services, and Reflections on a Career in Rural Health, with John Supplitt
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring John Supplitt, Senior Director of Rural Health Services for the American Hospital Association. Focuses on the importance of maintaining rural essential services, along with insights from Supplitt's long career in rural health.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring John Supplitt, Senior Director of Rural Health Services for the American Hospital Association. Focuses on the importance of maintaining rural essential services, along with insights from Supplitt's long career in rural health.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rising Through the Ranks: Q&A with Rural Hospital President Soniya Fidler
An interview with UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center President Soniya Fidler, who reflects on the journey that took her from an entry-level hospital position to a leadership role and shares insights about the skills needed to transition from management to leadership.
Author(s): Hallie Vonk
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An interview with UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center President Soniya Fidler, who reflects on the journey that took her from an entry-level hospital position to a leadership role and shares insights about the skills needed to transition from management to leadership.
Author(s): Hallie Vonk
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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2018-23 Profitability of Rural Hospitals by Ownership and System Affiliation
Examines the profitability of rural hospitals according to system affiliation and ownership type: government, not-for-profit, or for-profit. Utilizes 2018-2023 data to provide graphs showing total margin of rural hospitals by system affiliation and ownership.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the profitability of rural hospitals according to system affiliation and ownership type: government, not-for-profit, or for-profit. Utilizes 2018-2023 data to provide graphs showing total margin of rural hospitals by system affiliation and ownership.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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2018‐23 Profitability of Rural and Urban Hospitals by Medicare Payment Designation
Examines the profitability of rural and urban hospitals according to special Medicare payment designations, including: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals, Medicare Dependent Hospitals (MDHs), Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs), Rural Referral Centers (RRCs), and Essential Access Community Hospitals (EAC). Utilizes 2018-2023 data to analyze hospital profitability by rural versus urban status and facility/payment type.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the profitability of rural and urban hospitals according to special Medicare payment designations, including: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals, Medicare Dependent Hospitals (MDHs), Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs), Rural Referral Centers (RRCs), and Essential Access Community Hospitals (EAC). Utilizes 2018-2023 data to analyze hospital profitability by rural versus urban status and facility/payment type.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Differences in Use of Veterans Health Administration and Non-VHA Hospitals by Rural and Urban Veterans After Access Expansions
Presents a study on rural and urban differences in acute inpatient care utilization in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA hospitals following expansions to the Veterans Choice Act. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as age and sex, among others.
Author(s): Matthew P. Dizon, Kenneth W. Kizer, Michael K. Ong, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 446-456
Date: 06/2024
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Presents a study on rural and urban differences in acute inpatient care utilization in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA hospitals following expansions to the Veterans Choice Act. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as age and sex, among others.
Author(s): Matthew P. Dizon, Kenneth W. Kizer, Michael K. Ong, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 446-456
Date: 06/2024
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2018-23 Profitability of Rural Hospitals by with and without Rural Health Clinics and Long-Term Care
Provides an overview of the profitability of rural hospitals by examining long-term care (LTC) services and costs of operating a Rural Health Clinic (RHC). Analyzes 2018-2023 data and presents graphs showing the total margins of rural hospitals, comparing those with and without LTC or an RHC.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, James Kim, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Provides an overview of the profitability of rural hospitals by examining long-term care (LTC) services and costs of operating a Rural Health Clinic (RHC). Analyzes 2018-2023 data and presents graphs showing the total margins of rural hospitals, comparing those with and without LTC or an RHC.
Author(s): Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, James Kim, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Last Updated: 10/10/2025