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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Emergency department and urgent care services

Overview of Pediatric Emergency Department Visits, 2015
Reports on pediatric emergency department (ED) visits in 2015. Compares pediatric and adult ED visits by three types: all ED visits, treat-and-release ED visits, and ED visits resulting hospital admission. Table 2 provides statistics on the type of ED visit and pediatric patient characteristics including patient residence, such as metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Kimberly W. McDermott, Carol Stocks, William J. Freeman
Date: 08/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Trends in the Utilisation of Emergency Departments in California, 2005–2015: A Retrospective Analysis
Examines the characteristics of patients utilizing California's emergency departments (EDs) regarding age, sex, race/ethnicity, payer, and urban/rural residence, using data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
Author(s): Renee Y Hsia, Sarah H Sabbagh, Joanna Guo,Thomas J Nuckton, Matthew J Niedzwiecki
Citation: BMJ Open, 8(7)
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2018
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Includes a chapter on ensuring appropriate access to and use of hospital emergency department (ED) services that provides extensive information on rural access to ED services and identifies examples of rural off-campus emergency departments. Other sections of the report addressing rural concerns focus on post-acute care, quality and value payment programs, and medical device payment policies. Also includes a report on the effects of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Date: 06/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluating National Program to Improve Access to Acute Stroke Services for Rural Veterans
Features a study on the Veterans Health Administration's efforts to improve access to acute stroke services for rural and underserved veteran populations. Discusses the National TeleStroke Program (NTSP) and it's impact on rural veterans.
Date: 06/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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The Interaction Between Rural/Urban Status and Dual Use Status among Veterans with Heart Failure
Details a study on hospitalization and emergency department use by veterans with heart failure who use VA-only services or use a combination of VA and other healthcare services. Examines the role of urban and rural status in the veterans healthcare utilization rates.
Author(s): Kelly J Hunt, Mulugeta Gebregziahber, Charles J Everett, Paul A Heidenreich, Robert Neal
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 18(2), 4495
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
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Implementation of the MEDFRAT to Promote Quality Care and Decrease Falls in Community Hospital Emergency Rooms
Examines the implementation of Memorial Emergency Department Fall-Risk Assessment Tool (MEDFRAT), an evidence based fall-risk assessment tool, in 12 emergency departments part of a rural health care system in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.
Author(s): Catherine A. McCarty, Theo A. Woehrle, Stephen C. Waring, Allise M. Taran, Laura A. Kitch
Citation: Journal of Emergency Nursing, 44(3), 280-284
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
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OSF HealthCare – Peoria, IL: Connecting Health Systems and Community-Based Organizations to Improve Outcomes
Features a faith-based, 13-hospital health care system serving Illinois and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Describes OSF Center for Health - Streator, which will feature the first rural freestanding emergency department in Illinois. Discusses how OSF HealthCare is using a case management platform and working with community-based organizations to meet a wide range of patient needs.
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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2017 Colorado Opioid Safety Pilot Results Report
Describes an opioid safety pilot study that implemented the ALTO, or alternative to opioid, approach for pain treatment in 7 urban and 3 rural hospital emergency departments in Colorado. Discusses ALTO's multifaceted treatment approach for pain management, data collection and analysis, and lessons learned.
Additional links: Pre-Launch Checklist: Using Alternatives to Opioids (ALTOs) in Hospital Emergency Departments
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Hospital Association
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National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2015 Emergency Department Summary Tables
Provides data on ambulatory care emergency department (ED) hospital visits. Table 1 provides metropolitan/nonmetropolitan ED visit data based on hospital location, Table 2 includes metro/nonmetro ED visit data by location of patient residence, and Table 15 has metro/nonmetro injury visit data based on hospital location.
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Opioid Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments
Describes trends in opioid overdose emergency department (ED) visits and discusses what the federal government, health departments, EDs, and healthcare providers can do. Includes links to related CDC resources.
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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