2017 Rural Health Network Summit: The Role of Networks in the Changing Health Care Landscape
Summarizes the discussions from the 2017 Rural Health Network Summit. Identifies critical solutions for network leaders and sets key priority areas for federal spending and technical assistance. Seeks to facilitate best practices among rural health networks and demonstrate the importance of networks in improving the rural healthcare system.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Sample Network Balanced Scorecard Materials
Health information technology (HIT) network balanced scorecard improvement plan and strategy map samples for networks interested in incorporating the balanced scorecard methodology into their strategic plans.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Response to Commentary: Partnered Research to Improve Health of Rural Veterans
Describes how VA-funded Centers of Innovation (COINs) develop strategies optimizing care for veterans in rural areas. Focuses on programs in Salt Lake City, Utah; West Haven, Connecticut; and North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Author(s): Teresa Hudson
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Services Research & Development Service
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Health Information Technology (HIT) Network Readiness Assessment
Self-assessment tool designed to help leaders identify organizational strengths and weaknesses. Helps health professionals determine a starting point for building a successful HIT network.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Providing Patient-Centered Enhanced Discharge Planning and Rural Transition Support: Building a Rural Transitions Network Between Regional Referral and Critical Access Hospitals
Details manual procedures used in Western Montana to develop a model to improve the likelihood of a good recovery for patients and decreasing chances of re-hospitalization. Includes a guide to ethical considerations in discharge and rural transition planning.
Author(s): Tom Seekins, Heidi Boehm, Jennifer Wong, Linda Yearous, AnnaJean Smith
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Improving Access to High Quality Sepsis Care in a South Dakota Emergency Telemedicine Network
Research and policy brief exploring whether emergency department-based telemedicine networks using real-time access to sepsis experts can improve outcomes and decrease variation in care. Discusses a pilot program for Critical Access Hospitals in South Dakota-based Avera Health's 140-hospital network in 12 states. Includes statistics for patients with positive sepsis screens from September 2016 to March 2017.
Author(s): Nicholas M. Mohr, Brian Skow, Amy Wittrock, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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RS3--The Montana Rural Surgery Support System--Is a Model for Surgical Care in Rural CAHs
Features a clinically integrated surgery network model, designed to help rural surgeons provide complex surgical care with limited resources. Described as being easy to reproduce and applicable to almost all surgical subspecialties.
Author(s): David Sheldon
Citation: Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons, 102(10), 61-63
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
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The Maternal Health Compact
Examines the ways telehealth can be used to improve obstetrical care in small and rural hospitals. Approaches such as Maternal Health Compacts emphasize collaboration, either directly or through telehealth, between tertiary care facilities and lower-resource hospitals. Utilizing the Maternal Health Compact model helps lower-resource hospitals prepare for complicated cases, improve outcomes for high-risk patients, and facilitate transport when necessary.
Author(s): Susan Mann, Kimberlee McKay, Haywood Brown
Citation: New England Journal of Medicine, 376(14), 1304-1305
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
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Promising Practice: GA SORH Looks at the Feasibility of EMS Regionalization in the State
Reports on a study undertaken by the Georgia State Office of Rural Health (GA-SORH) and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) to determine if regionalization of emergency medical services (EMS) among counties was feasible as a way to fill the gaps left from the closure of several rural hospitals in the state.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Vermont Care Network Advocates for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Agencies
Highlights the work of the Vermont Care Network, which supports 16 non-profit agencies that provide behavioral health and developmental disability services in the state. Discusses cross-sector collaboration and integration of mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services with primary care.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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