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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities

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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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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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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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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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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Federal Credit Assistance and Grant Programs for Rural Businesses
Provides an overview of selected federal credit assistance and grant programs that support rural businesses. Covers programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), as well as the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Location of Critical Access Hospitals
U.S. map showing Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Updated quarterly.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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HEARTLAND Protocol: A Tiered Clinical Implementation Toolkit for Primary Care-Led Heart Failure Management in Rural and Resource-Limited Settings
Presents a study on the efficacy of the HEARTLAND (Heart failure Evidence-based Access in Rural Treatment, Linking Advanced Network Delivery) protocol at managing heart failure (HF) in rural and low-resourced healthcare settings. Highlights the protocol's structure and the process by which it evaluates patient HF risk, establishes monitoring, and ensures continuity of care.
Author(s): Vicky Muller Ferreira
Citation: Cureus, 18(3), e104817
Date: 03/2026
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Expanding Oral Health Access and Equity: The Impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers
Presents a literature review aiming to understand the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing access to oral healthcare. Highlights different delivery methods, such as telehealth, oral health integration, and school-based and mobile health center programs. Discusses access barriers, such as rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Irene Hilton, Candace L. H. Owen, Rachel Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 48-53
Date: 03/2026
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Sharing Resources and Working Together: The Rural Collaborative
Provides an overview of the Rural Collaborative, a network of 31 rural public hospitals across Washington state. Describes how the network helps participating hospitals maintain their independence by sharing resources and working together on shared services, peer learning, operational support, and preferred pricing. Discusses the network's history and members, network operations and priorities, and future plans.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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