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Resources by Topic: Critical Access Hospitals

Evidence-Based Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Quality Improvement Programs/Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals
Discusses evidence-based AMI Quality Improvement (QI) programs and strategies that are applicable to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Covers Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) AMI quality measures.
Author(s): Shailendra Prasad, Jill Klingner, Michelle Casey, Walter Gregg, Ira Moscovice
Date: 08/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Quality Reporting for CAHs and Rural PPS Hospitals: The Potential Impact of Composite Measures
Assesses the use of composite scores for public reporting of quality measures as one way of addressing the low volume issue for small rural hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals.
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Peiyin Hung, Ira Moscovice
Date: 07/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
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Electronic Health Records: Number and Characteristics of Providers Awarded Medicare Incentive Payments for 2011
Reports on Medicare electronic health record incentive payments for 2011 to hospitals and healthcare providers. Compares incentive payments by geographic location including rural/urban breakdowns, hospital type including Critical Access Hospitals, and healthcare provider specialty.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Critical Access Hospital 2012 Financial Leadership Summit Summary
Summarizes key discussions from a two-day event focusing on Critical Access Hospital (CAH) financial performance and indicators. Provides financial resources relevant to state Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program personnel, CAH administrators, and CAH board members.
Date: 06/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Technical Assistance and Services Center
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Community Health Needs Assessment Toolkit
Designed to help rural hospitals conduct a community health needs assessment, which is a requirement for all 501(c)(3) hospitals.
Author(s): Gerald A. Doeksen, Cheryl F. St. Clair
Date: 05/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Center for Rural Health Works, Oklahoma Office of Rural Health
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Anticipating the Rural Impact of Medicare Value-Based Purchasing
Describes the design and implementation of Medicare value-based purchasing (VBP) programs. Addresses the potential impact of these programs on rural healthcare providers. Includes discussion on the five provider types: Prospective Payment system (PPS) hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), home health agencies, and physician office practices.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Nicholas P. Lillios, et al.
Date: 04/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Promoting a Culture of Safety: Use of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture in Critical Access Hospitals
Discusses the use of patient safety culture surveys as a way to promote organizational learning and build a culture of safety.
Author(s): Zachariah T. Croll, Andrew F. Coburn, Karen B. Pearson
Date: 04/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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The Use of Hospitalists in Small Rural Hospitals
Describes small rural hospitals' use of hospitalists, who assume responsibility for patient care during inpatient hospital stays. Includes information on how hospitalists are used at these facilities. Discusses impacts on healthcare quality, hospital finances, and recruitment and retention of physicians.
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice
Date: 04/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
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Why Use Swing Beds? Conversations with Hospital Administrators and Staff
Includes interviews of hospital administrators and staff about the use of swing beds, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Addresses the role of swing beds in patient care, swing bed volume and financial considerations, swing beds in the context of all community post-acute skilled care, and swing beds as a benefit for community residents.
Author(s): Victoria A. Freeman, Andrea Radford
Date: 04/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Evidence-Based Heart Failure Quality Improvement Programs & Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals
Describes evidence-based heart failure Quality Improvement (QI) programs and strategies that can be used in Critical Access Hospitals. Includes a list of tools and resources, as well as details on strategies and measures used.
Author(s): Walter Gregg, Jill Klingner, Michelle Casey, Shailendra Prasad, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2012
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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