Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health information technology
Challenges of EHR "Meaningful Use" in Rural Health Centers
Describes a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control quality improvement initiative to reduce health disparities for people with hypertension and high blood cholesterol in rural areas. Discusses the extent to which rural health centers were able to disaggregate data and report quality measures using electronic health records (EHRs). Highlights barriers to engaging in meaningful use, including rurality, staffing, and financial challenges.
Author(s): Courtney Brightharp, Kristian Myers, Jennifer Mandelbaum
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30
Date: 2024
Type: Document
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Describes a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control quality improvement initiative to reduce health disparities for people with hypertension and high blood cholesterol in rural areas. Discusses the extent to which rural health centers were able to disaggregate data and report quality measures using electronic health records (EHRs). Highlights barriers to engaging in meaningful use, including rurality, staffing, and financial challenges.
Author(s): Courtney Brightharp, Kristian Myers, Jennifer Mandelbaum
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30
Date: 2024
Type: Document
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Cybersecurity: A Path to Increase Rural Health Care Preparedness
Policy position paper discussing the importance of increasing cybersecurity measures across rural healthcare facilities and organizations. Highlights challenges rural providers face in achieving adequate cybersecurity protections, preparedness, and response. Offers federal and state policy recommendations to support and enhance cybersecurity in rural healthcare settings.
Author(s): Michael Hassell, Jenny Niblock
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy position paper discussing the importance of increasing cybersecurity measures across rural healthcare facilities and organizations. Highlights challenges rural providers face in achieving adequate cybersecurity protections, preparedness, and response. Offers federal and state policy recommendations to support and enhance cybersecurity in rural healthcare settings.
Author(s): Michael Hassell, Jenny Niblock
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Independent Evaluation of Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+): Final Annual Report
Reports on the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) model, a CMS primary care payment and delivery reform effort that ran from 2017-2021. Outlines key findings from the model, including CPC+ supports to practices, care delivery changes made by practices, impacts on outcomes for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, and implications for primary care models. Describes the experiences of payers, practices, health IT vendors, and patients. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 1, Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 2, Findings at a Glance
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Reports on the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) model, a CMS primary care payment and delivery reform effort that ran from 2017-2021. Outlines key findings from the model, including CPC+ supports to practices, care delivery changes made by practices, impacts on outcomes for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, and implications for primary care models. Describes the experiences of payers, practices, health IT vendors, and patients. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 1, Appendices to the Final Report, Volume 2, Findings at a Glance
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Cybersecurity Lockdown
Recording of a December 6, 2023, webinar on cybersecurity threats and attacks. Discusses who is after healthcare data, why providers have a professional responsibility to address these threats proactively, and what providers can do today to limit their impact. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a December 6, 2023, webinar on cybersecurity threats and attacks. Discusses who is after healthcare data, why providers have a professional responsibility to address these threats proactively, and what providers can do today to limit their impact. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Hospitals' Electronic Access to Information Needed to Treat COVID-19
Explores acute care hospitals' ability to access electronic access to information necessary to treat COVID-19 patients in 2021. Examines differences in information availability by hospital characteristics, including rurality and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, and engagement in interoperable exchange.
Author(s): Chelsea Richwine, Jordan Everson, Vaishali Patel
Citation: JAMIA Open, 6(4)
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Explores acute care hospitals' ability to access electronic access to information necessary to treat COVID-19 patients in 2021. Examines differences in information availability by hospital characteristics, including rurality and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, and engagement in interoperable exchange.
Author(s): Chelsea Richwine, Jordan Everson, Vaishali Patel
Citation: JAMIA Open, 6(4)
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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Disparities in Electronic Health Record Portal Access and Use among Patients with Cancer
Evaluates use of electronic health record (EHR) portal use among adult cancer patients who received treatment at 3 IMPACT cancer research centers, utilizing data extracted in February, 2022. Provides data on EHR portal use and frequency, and identifies associations with factors including sex, age, race and ethnicity, rural dwelling, broadband access, number of clinical encounters, and more.
Author(s): Joan M Griffin, Barbara L Kroner, Sandra L Wong, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2023, djad225
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Evaluates use of electronic health record (EHR) portal use among adult cancer patients who received treatment at 3 IMPACT cancer research centers, utilizing data extracted in February, 2022. Provides data on EHR portal use and frequency, and identifies associations with factors including sex, age, race and ethnicity, rural dwelling, broadband access, number of clinical encounters, and more.
Author(s): Joan M Griffin, Barbara L Kroner, Sandra L Wong, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2023, djad225
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Pre-Pandemic Assessment: A Decade of Progress in Electronic Health Record Adoption among U.S. Hospitals
Assessment of trends in electronic health record adoption between 2009 and 2020. Compares hospitals by rurality, size, ownership, and more. Discusses the impacts of COVID-19.
Author(s): John (Xuefeng) Jiang, Kangkang Qi, Ge Bai, Kevin Schulman
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(5)
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Assessment of trends in electronic health record adoption between 2009 and 2020. Compares hospitals by rurality, size, ownership, and more. Discusses the impacts of COVID-19.
Author(s): John (Xuefeng) Jiang, Kangkang Qi, Ge Bai, Kevin Schulman
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(5)
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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HHS is Taking Action to Strengthen Primary Care
Describes the importance of primary care to improving access to healthcare, the health and well-being of individuals and communities, and health equity. Discusses challenges facing primary care and outlines actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address these challenges. Covers primary care payment, workforce, access, health information technology, and research and practice improvement support.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Describes the importance of primary care to improving access to healthcare, the health and well-being of individuals and communities, and health equity. Discusses challenges facing primary care and outlines actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address these challenges. Covers primary care payment, workforce, access, health information technology, and research and practice improvement support.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Health Information Workforce: Survey Results on Workforce Challenges and the Role of Emerging Technologies
Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Leveraging Connected Care Strategies to Expand Rural Access to Healthcare
Recorded video that features a conversation focused on connected healthcare, healthcare access, and the digital divide in rural areas. Discusses the future of virtual care to improve access for rural communities and strategies to alleviate barriers to connected healthcare.
Author(s): Jared Antczak
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Xtelligent Healthcare Media
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Recorded video that features a conversation focused on connected healthcare, healthcare access, and the digital divide in rural areas. Discusses the future of virtual care to improve access for rural communities and strategies to alleviate barriers to connected healthcare.
Author(s): Jared Antczak
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Xtelligent Healthcare Media
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