Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Closures of healthcare facilities and services
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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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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Chartis Center for Rural Health Research & Resources for the 2022 National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute Conference
Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes Pandemic Increases Pressure on Rural Hospitals & Communities: Vulnerability, Health Inequity and Staffing Crisis Amplified in Pandemic's Third Year and presentation slides on this report from the 2022 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes Pandemic Increases Pressure on Rural Hospitals & Communities: Vulnerability, Health Inequity and Staffing Crisis Amplified in Pandemic's Third Year and presentation slides on this report from the 2022 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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The Problem Of The Color Line: Spatial Access To Hospital Services For Minoritized Racial And Ethnic Groups
Study examining inequities in access to healthcare by race and geography, covering distances to hospital services for minoritized ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZTCAs). Discusses factors that lead to disparities in access for rural minority communities, including policy, rural hospital closures, and safety-net program issues.
Additional links: Story Map: The Problem Of The Color Line
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Peiyin Hung, Gabriel A. Benavidez, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(2), 237-246
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
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Study examining inequities in access to healthcare by race and geography, covering distances to hospital services for minoritized ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZTCAs). Discusses factors that lead to disparities in access for rural minority communities, including policy, rural hospital closures, and safety-net program issues.
Additional links: Story Map: The Problem Of The Color Line
Author(s): Jan M. Eberth, Peiyin Hung, Gabriel A. Benavidez, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 41(2), 237-246
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Provider and Patient Perspectives on Labor and Delivery Unit Closures in Rural New Hampshire
Explores how the closure of labor and delivery units in New Hampshire has impacted the providers and patients in the affected communities. Describes the top reasons for labor and delivery unit closures among five hospitals, staffing challenges, and the effect of closures on prenatal and postpartum care for women in the community. Presents recommendations to ensure access to safe and secure pregnancies and deliveries after closures.
Author(s): Sarah Benatar, Stacey McMorrow, Timothy J. Fisher
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Explores how the closure of labor and delivery units in New Hampshire has impacted the providers and patients in the affected communities. Describes the top reasons for labor and delivery unit closures among five hospitals, staffing challenges, and the effect of closures on prenatal and postpartum care for women in the community. Presents recommendations to ensure access to safe and secure pregnancies and deliveries after closures.
Author(s): Sarah Benatar, Stacey McMorrow, Timothy J. Fisher
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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For-profit Hospitals as Anchor Institutions in the United States: A Study of Organizational Stability
Examines whether for-profit hospitals are stable enough to fulfill the role of long-standing anchor institutions through a long-term presence in communities. Analyzes if for-profit hospitals had higher odds of closing and merging, and discusses the potential economic contributions of for-profit anchor institution hospitals to the surrounding community. Includes statistics by hospital characteristics, including rural location, and a discussion of rural hospital closures.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Cory E. Cronin, Vanessa Rodriguez, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 21
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
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Examines whether for-profit hospitals are stable enough to fulfill the role of long-standing anchor institutions through a long-term presence in communities. Analyzes if for-profit hospitals had higher odds of closing and merging, and discusses the potential economic contributions of for-profit anchor institution hospitals to the surrounding community. Includes statistics by hospital characteristics, including rural location, and a discussion of rural hospital closures.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Cory E. Cronin, Vanessa Rodriguez, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 21
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
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Robustness of Estimated Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Providers in Rural Vs. Urban Areas of the United States
Estimates level of access to opioid use disorder treatment at 31,053 locations in July 2020 for rural and urban opioid users by comparing drive time and availability of treatment. Discusses treatment disparities between rural and urban opioid users with particular focus on infrastructure such as transportation and broadband, hospital closures, and health insurance status.
Author(s): Matthew V. Kiang, Michael L. Barnett, Sarah E. Wakeman, Keith Humphreys, Alexander C. Tsai
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 228, 109081
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
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Estimates level of access to opioid use disorder treatment at 31,053 locations in July 2020 for rural and urban opioid users by comparing drive time and availability of treatment. Discusses treatment disparities between rural and urban opioid users with particular focus on infrastructure such as transportation and broadband, hospital closures, and health insurance status.
Author(s): Matthew V. Kiang, Michael L. Barnett, Sarah E. Wakeman, Keith Humphreys, Alexander C. Tsai
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 228, 109081
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
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Access to Outpatient Services in Rural Communities Changes after Hospital Closure
Examines trends of Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Rural Health Quality (RHC) availability in rural areas before and after hospital closures. Explores the associations between poverty rates and access to FQHCs and RHCs following hospital closure.
Author(s): Katherine E. M. Miller, Kyle L. Miller, Kathleen Knocke, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 56(5), 788-801
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
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Examines trends of Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Rural Health Quality (RHC) availability in rural areas before and after hospital closures. Explores the associations between poverty rates and access to FQHCs and RHCs following hospital closure.
Author(s): Katherine E. M. Miller, Kyle L. Miller, Kathleen Knocke, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 56(5), 788-801
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Emergency Hospital: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Describes the development of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation in response to rural hospital closures and issues accessing emergency care. Lists statutory requirements for hospitals wishing to become an REH, and offers policy recommendations related to participation conditions, quality reporting, reimbursement, and emergency medical transfer agreement.
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Describes the development of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation in response to rural hospital closures and issues accessing emergency care. Lists statutory requirements for hospitals wishing to become an REH, and offers policy recommendations related to participation conditions, quality reporting, reimbursement, and emergency medical transfer agreement.
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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