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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Interoperability among U.S. Non-Federal Acute Care Hospitals in 2015
Estimates of the percentage of interoperable exchange activity among non-federal acute care hospitals, including whether patient information is electronically available from sources outside their own systems. Determines if that information is used for clinical decisions and discusses barriers to exchanging that information.
Author(s): Vaishali Patel, JaWanna Henry, Yuriy Pylypchuk, Talisha Searcy
Date: 05/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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State Variations in the Rural Obstetric Workforce
Illustrates the challenges affecting the obstetric workforce in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other rural hospitals having at least 10 births in 2010 by analyzing data derived from a telephone survey conducted in 9 states. Includes data for each state on hospital and provider characteristics, and services provided for labor and delivery.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Michelle M. Casey, Carrie Henning-Smith, Shailendra Prasad
Date: 05/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Veterans' Health Care: Proper Plan Needed to Modernize System for Paying Community Providers
Examines the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Medicare and TRICARE systems in regards to processing Veterans healthcare claims including processing times and factors that have impeded processing and payment, as well as modified provisions to improve claim processing. Provides an overview of the Veterans Choice Program and other types of community healthcare programs offered by Veterans Affairs (VA).
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Randall B. Williamson
Date: 05/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Health Information Exchange: A Strategy for Improving Access for Rural Veterans in the Maine Flex Rural Veterans Health Access Program
Describes the design and implementation of a project to expand access to healthcare for rural veterans through a bi-directional link between a statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) in Maine and Veterans Administration facilities. Discusses challenges and successes encountered in developing a health information system that is interoperable between a variety of complex agencies.
Author(s): Karen B. Pearson, Amanda Burgess, John A. Gale, Andrew F. Coburn, Anush Yousefian Hansen
Date: 05/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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LGBTQ Healthcare: Building Inclusive Rural Practices
Discusses the challenges rural LGBTQ individuals face in accessing quality care and what rural healthcare providers can do to improve the healthcare experience for this patient population.
Author(s): Zachary Toliver
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Improving Efficiency and Preserving Access to Emergency Care in Rural Areas
Slides that provide background on rural hospital payment policy and strategies to preserve access to emergency care in rural areas. Discusses existing payment models and benefits and drawbacks of different models.
Author(s): Jeff Stensland, Zach Gaumer
Date: 04/2016
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Challenges and Barriers to Health Care and Overall Health in Older Residents of Alaska: Evidence from a National Survey
Analyzes healthcare access and preventative health behaviors of the growing Alaskan senior population. Compares health status, healthcare coverage, and length of time between check-ups to seniors in the continental U.S. Describes the barriers of geographic isolation, climate, and poverty impacting Alaskan older adults.
Author(s): Julia D. Foutz, Steven A. Cohen, Sarah K. Cook
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 75(1)
Date: 04/2016
Type: Document
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Community Characteristics Associated with Where Urgent Care Centers Are Located: A Cross-sectional Analysis
Examines the qualities and characteristics of a community with a non-hospital-based urgent care center, regardless of location. Table 1 lists a comparison of communities with and without non-hospital-based urgent care centers.
Author(s): Sidney T Le, Renee Y Hsia
Citation: BMJ Open, 6(4)
Date: 04/2016
Type: Document
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15 Million Kids in Health Care Deserts: Can Telehealth Make a Difference?
Highlights healthcare access problems for children of vulnerable populations living in rural and poverty stricken areas. Discusses how telehealth can be implemented to overcome these barriers. Describes several case studies focused on improving access to healthcare services for children, including a rural school-based telehealth program.
Author(s): Dale Alverson, Julie Hall-Barrow, Denise M. Dion, et al.
Date: 04/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Children's Health Fund
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Integrated Behavioral Health In Montana: A Baseline Assessment of Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities
Presents results from a baseline assessment of Montana's behavioral health system of care. Evaluates the possibility of addressing system deficiencies by implementing an integrated behavioral health model. Describes rural-specific benefits and challenges associated with system integration.
Additional links: Issue Brief
Author(s): Katie Loveland
Date: 04/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Montana Healthcare Foundation
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