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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Quality Time: Sharing PIE – Improving Swing Bed Quality
Podcast episode discussing how two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) quality improvement leaders in Mississippi and Nevada used proactive approaches to improve their swing bed programs. Describes efforts in reducing healthcare-associated infections with pneumonia and improving the documentation and coordination of swing bed patients.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Improving Maternal and Infant Services in Rural Iowa
Podcast episode discussing how St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa, responded to decreasing access to maternal healthcare in rural Iowa. Discusses the hospital's Center for Excellence pilot program that aims to expand access to obstetric services and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Inflation Reduction Act Research Series: Medicare Enrollees' Use and Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Drugs Selected for Negotiation under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
Provides an overview of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Examines prescription drug use and out-of-pocket spending by Medicare Part D enrollees in calendar year 2022 for each of the first 10 drugs selected for price negotiations, which will be applicable in 2026. Includes data on the demographic characteristics of Medicare Part D enrollees taking each drug, including urban-rural status, as well as the number of enrollees and mean out-of-pocket spending on each drug by state.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Care Coordination Between Rural Primary Care and Telemedicine to Expand Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Results from a Single-Arm, Multisite Feasibility Study
Examines the feasibility of expanding access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in rural areas through the use of telemedicine. Analyzes 6 rural primary care sites and their care coordination model. Includes data on patients referred to telemedicine and total number of patient-days on MOUD.
Author(s): Yih-Ing Hser, Larissa J. Mooney, Laura-Mae Baldwin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(4), 780-788
Date: 09/2023
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Addressing HPV-related Stigma to Increase HPV Vaccination in Rural Communities
Discusses how stigma related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection creates barriers to vaccination for a variety of populations, including people in rural areas. Details strategies to increase rural HPV vaccine access by addressing stigma.
Author(s): Caryn Peterson
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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The State of Our Health: A Statewide Health Assessment of Pennsylvania, August 2023 Update
Identifies specific health challenges in Pennsylvania and indicates where the largest improvements can be made. Features sections on social determinants of health, access to care, substance use, chronic diseases, mental health, maternal and infant health, injury and violence prevention, infectious diseases and immunization, Health Professional Shortage Areas, and environmental health. Includes references to rural throughout.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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Differential Treatment and Outcomes for Patients With Heart Attacks in Advantaged and Disadvantaged Communities
Analyzes geographic disparities in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) access, treatment, and outcomes among patients with acute myocardial infarction in California using 2006-2020 patient data. Compares mortality, readmissions, same-day PCI, distance to PCI, and more by neighborhood disadvantage status. Highlights factors associated with neighborhood disadvantage including race, ethnicity, and rurality.
Author(s): Yu-Chu Shen, Nandita Sarkar, Renee Y. Hsia
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 12(17), e030506
Date: 08/2023
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Using Wastewater to Overcome Health Disparities among Rural Residents
Highlights health disparities in rural America and the potential for wastewater surveillance as a tool to address disparities. Discusses the use of wastewater surveillance during COVID-19 and in under-resourced locations in South Africa.
Author(s): Rochelle H. Holm, Gina Pocock, Marie A. Severson, et al.
Citation: Geoforum, 144, 103816
Date: 08/2023
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Innovations in Rural Maternal Health: National Maternal Health Innovation Symposium 2023
Recording of a panel discussion about innovations in maternal health specific to rural communities. Discusses the unique maternal health needs of rural populations and their experiences receiving and providing maternal healthcare. Transcript available below description.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Maternal Health Learning & Innovation Center
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Who's Accountable? Low-Value Care Received By Medicare Beneficiaries Outside Of Their Attributed Health Systems
Examines how much low-volume care and health system spending can be attributed to fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65-years-old and older receiving care outside of the health system between 2017-2018. Explores beneficiary and health system factors associated with receiving the thirty most common low-value services, including beneficiaries' rurality and whether the low-value services originated from primary care physicians or specialists.
Author(s): Ishani Ganguli, Maia L. Crawford, Benjamin Usadi, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 42(8), 1128-1139
Date: 08/2023
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