Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities
National Trends in the Potentially Preventable Hospitalization for Pediatric Asthma, 2016-2020
Describes the trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations for asthma among children 2 to 17 years old between 2016 and 2020. Presents data on the rate of potentially preventable hospitalizations for pediatric asthma by hospital characteristics and patient demographics, including the rural classification of hospitals and patient residence.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Gogoal Falia, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations for asthma among children 2 to 17 years old between 2016 and 2020. Presents data on the rate of potentially preventable hospitalizations for pediatric asthma by hospital characteristics and patient demographics, including the rural classification of hospitals and patient residence.
Author(s): Marvellous Akinlotan, Nima Khodakarami, Gogoal Falia, Alva O. Ferdinand
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Income and Geographic Disparities in in-Hospital Mortality Following Cardiovascular Procedures: Evidence From the National Inpatient Sample, 2016–2022
Examines in-hospital mortality following cardiovascular procedures as related to income and geographic disparities. Utilizes 2016-2022 National Inpatient Sample data to analyze various cardiovascular procedures and associated mortality risk by income as well as by location of non-metro, metro of 50,000 to 999,000 residents, or metro of 1,000,000 or more residents.
Author(s): Alon Bergman, Ashwin Nathan
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70117
Date: 04/2026
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Examines in-hospital mortality following cardiovascular procedures as related to income and geographic disparities. Utilizes 2016-2022 National Inpatient Sample data to analyze various cardiovascular procedures and associated mortality risk by income as well as by location of non-metro, metro of 50,000 to 999,000 residents, or metro of 1,000,000 or more residents.
Author(s): Alon Bergman, Ashwin Nathan
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70117
Date: 04/2026
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2025 National CAH Quality Inventory & Assessment National Report
Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2025 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; CAH quality payment model participation; and CAH quality improvement topic priorities.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2025 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; CAH quality payment model participation; and CAH quality improvement topic priorities.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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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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Impact of Rural Hospital Closures on Survival among Medicare Beneficiaries Diagnosed with Colorectal, Lung, Breast, and Prostate Cancer
Presents a study on the effect rural hospital closures have on mortality rates of patients with colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancer using 2000-2020 data from the National Cancer Institute. Breaks down data by closure year and patient demographics, such as age, rural status, and cancer stage, among others.
Author(s): Zhaoli Liu, Daoqi Gao, Tara Martin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70148
Date: 04/2026
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Presents a study on the effect rural hospital closures have on mortality rates of patients with colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancer using 2000-2020 data from the National Cancer Institute. Breaks down data by closure year and patient demographics, such as age, rural status, and cancer stage, among others.
Author(s): Zhaoli Liu, Daoqi Gao, Tara Martin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70148
Date: 04/2026
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Ambulance Deserts and Health Care Deserts
Story maps illustrating the intersection of ambulance deserts and rural healthcare deserts in 2020 across 41 states. Maps include the locations of hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Presents data on the number and percent of rural residents living in ambulance deserts and healthcare deserts in each state and by region. Builds on a 2023 chartbook, Ambulance Deserts: Geographic Disparities in the Provision of Ambulance Services.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Tyler DeAngelis, Celia Jewell, Thomas Griffin, Heidi O'Connor
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Northeast Rural Health Research Center
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Story maps illustrating the intersection of ambulance deserts and rural healthcare deserts in 2020 across 41 states. Maps include the locations of hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Presents data on the number and percent of rural residents living in ambulance deserts and healthcare deserts in each state and by region. Builds on a 2023 chartbook, Ambulance Deserts: Geographic Disparities in the Provision of Ambulance Services.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Tyler DeAngelis, Celia Jewell, Thomas Griffin, Heidi O'Connor
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Northeast Rural Health Research Center
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Workplace Violence Prevention: Impacting Providers and Patients, with Kathy Griffis
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Kathy Griffis, Chief Operating Officer of Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Focuses on her facility's recent efforts to reduce violence and ensure safe healthcare environments for their staff and patients. Part 3 in a 3-part series from the December 2025 Health Innovation Potluck held in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Kathy Griffis, Chief Operating Officer of Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Focuses on her facility's recent efforts to reduce violence and ensure safe healthcare environments for their staff and patients. Part 3 in a 3-part series from the December 2025 Health Innovation Potluck held in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Trends in Inpatient Revenue and Volume Among Critical Access Hospitals
Examines trends in Critical Access Hospital (CAH) revenue and volume between 2017 and 2024. Presents data on average outpatient-to-total revenue and mean average daily census among CAHs each year by CAH urban or rural location, region, profit status, and system affiliation.
Author(s): Tyler Malone, Angelina Budko
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Examines trends in Critical Access Hospital (CAH) revenue and volume between 2017 and 2024. Presents data on average outpatient-to-total revenue and mean average daily census among CAHs each year by CAH urban or rural location, region, profit status, and system affiliation.
Author(s): Tyler Malone, Angelina Budko
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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Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Respiratory Virus Season
Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care/home health, and other clinical settings. Includes data by workplace location for rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mehreen Meghani, Zhuping Garacci, Hilda Razzaghi, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(12), 164-171
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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