Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health information technology
The Digital Divide in Adoption and Advanced Use of Electronic Health Records among U.S. Hospitals: Rural Versus Urban Disparities from 2008 to 2023
Examines differences in electronic health record (EHR) technology adoption in rural versus urban hospitals. Utilizes 2008-2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement data to analyze rural versus urban differences in hospital EHR use, with breakdowns according to EHR adoption, level of EHR technology, advanced EHR use and capabilities, and more. Includes U.S. map showing rural versus urban gap in EHR adoption.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Yinting Liu, Elizabeth Reisher, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 33(7), 1354-1369
Date: 07/2026
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Examines differences in electronic health record (EHR) technology adoption in rural versus urban hospitals. Utilizes 2008-2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement data to analyze rural versus urban differences in hospital EHR use, with breakdowns according to EHR adoption, level of EHR technology, advanced EHR use and capabilities, and more. Includes U.S. map showing rural versus urban gap in EHR adoption.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, Yinting Liu, Elizabeth Reisher, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 33(7), 1354-1369
Date: 07/2026
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Non-Federal Acute Care Hospital Electronic Health Record Adoption, 2008–2024
Explores trends in electronic health record (EHR) adoption among acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2024 using data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on EHR adoption by hospital characteristics, by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Explores trends in electronic health record (EHR) adoption among acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2024 using data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on EHR adoption by hospital characteristics, by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, and independent/system affiliation.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Acting Before the First Case: How Southern Seven Health Department Strengthened Measles Preparedness Through Partnerships
Case study highlighting the Southern Seven Health Department's approach to measles preparedness in rural Illinois via partnerships and data-sharing. Highlights topics including access to vaccines and other healthcare services, the role of forming partnerships with schools and other partners, and the importance of trust and communication.
Author(s): Tori Ryan
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Case study highlighting the Southern Seven Health Department's approach to measles preparedness in rural Illinois via partnerships and data-sharing. Highlights topics including access to vaccines and other healthcare services, the role of forming partnerships with schools and other partners, and the importance of trust and communication.
Author(s): Tori Ryan
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Rural Health Transformation Fund: Workforce Trends and Implications for Rural Care
Webinar presenting findings from a review of all 50 state Rural Health Transformation Fund plans, examining how workforce issues are framed, strategies that states are prioritizing, and how telehealth and digital health are reflected in workforce planning. Also explores the challenge of maintaining the workforce needed to support technology-enabled care in rural settings.
Additional links: PowerPoint, Transcript
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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Webinar presenting findings from a review of all 50 state Rural Health Transformation Fund plans, examining how workforce issues are framed, strategies that states are prioritizing, and how telehealth and digital health are reflected in workforce planning. Also explores the challenge of maintaining the workforce needed to support technology-enabled care in rural settings.
Additional links: PowerPoint, Transcript
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception Application Guide
Provides guidance on how clinicians can apply for a MIPS hardship exception. Highlights guidance for having your MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category reweighted to 0% in cases of insufficient internet connectivity, decertified electronic health record technology, or other circumstances out of the clinicians' control.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides guidance on how clinicians can apply for a MIPS hardship exception. Highlights guidance for having your MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category reweighted to 0% in cases of insufficient internet connectivity, decertified electronic health record technology, or other circumstances out of the clinicians' control.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Strategies for Critical Access Hospital Financial and Operational Performance Improvement: A Systematic Review
Summarizes findings from a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature published since 2000 regarding financial and operational performance improvement interventions implemented by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals in the United States and in other developed countries. Identifies key intervention areas, including service line optimization, revenue and cost management, and technology adoption, among others. Describes how State Flex Programs and hospital administrators can use these findings to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
Author(s): Angelina Budko, Laura Bozovich McFadyen, Carrie Baldwin-SoRelle, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes findings from a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature published since 2000 regarding financial and operational performance improvement interventions implemented by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals in the United States and in other developed countries. Identifies key intervention areas, including service line optimization, revenue and cost management, and technology adoption, among others. Describes how State Flex Programs and hospital administrators can use these findings to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
Author(s): Angelina Budko, Laura Bozovich McFadyen, Carrie Baldwin-SoRelle, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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A Chartbook on the Characteristics and Needs of Frontier Critical Access Hospitals
Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes findings from a 2025 national survey of executives from 117 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in frontier counties. Includes data on the distribution and characteristics of frontier CAHs. Identifies themes related to financial and operational challenges, service availability, and access to care in frontier settings.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Zachariah Croll, Jayne Foley
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Advancing Technology Innovation through the Rural Health Transformation Program
Identifies common themes across Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plans related to proposed health technology initiatives. Covers the information technology infrastructure, telehealth and remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence, and catalyst funds and pilot programs.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Identifies common themes across Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plans related to proposed health technology initiatives. Covers the information technology infrastructure, telehealth and remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence, and catalyst funds and pilot programs.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Revisiting the Rural and Urban Divide in Hospital Health Information Technology Adoption: Evidence From 2023
Presents a study assessing the adoption of telehealth, patient engagement, and health information exchange functionalities in rural and urban hospitals in 2023. Bases findings on American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Information Technology Survey data. Breaks down data by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural hospital settings.
Author(s): Alice S. Yan, Teagan K. Maguire, Jie Chen
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70100
Date: 12/2025
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Presents a study assessing the adoption of telehealth, patient engagement, and health information exchange functionalities in rural and urban hospitals in 2023. Bases findings on American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Information Technology Survey data. Breaks down data by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural hospital settings.
Author(s): Alice S. Yan, Teagan K. Maguire, Jie Chen
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70100
Date: 12/2025
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Gaps in Artificial Intelligence Research for Rural Health in the United States: A Scoping Review
Presents a scoping review exploring the extent of research on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare in rural communities. Discusses the application of AI in rural US healthcare and challenges that limit the development, implementation, or evaluation of AI in the rural areas.
Author(s): Katherine E. Brown, Sharon E. Davis
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Date: 11/2025
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Presents a scoping review exploring the extent of research on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare in rural communities. Discusses the application of AI in rural US healthcare and challenges that limit the development, implementation, or evaluation of AI in the rural areas.
Author(s): Katherine E. Brown, Sharon E. Davis
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Date: 11/2025
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