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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality

Taskforce on Telehealth Policy (TTP) Findings and Recommendations
Report from the Taskforce on Telehealth Policy (TTP) examining the rapid expansion of telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic and possible permanent shifts in telehealth policy. Offers findings and policy recommendations related to patient safety, program integrity, data flow and care coordination, quality measurement, cost of care, and overarching issues.
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Alliance for Connected Care, ATA, National Committee for Quality Assurance
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the ESRD PPS for CY 2021
Comments on a July 13, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing the ESRD Quality Incentive Program and changes to geographic area delineations.
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE - The Impact of COVID-19 on Quality Improvement
Podcast episode exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the quality improvement activities of two Critical Access Hospitals. Describes how quality improvement activities adapted during the pandemic and the tools and processes that were utilized.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Support for Transition from Adolescent to Adult Health Care Among Adolescents With and Without Mental, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders — United States, 2016–2017
Examines whether adolescents, including adolescents with diagnosed mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders (MBDDs), receive the recommended guidance on transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare. Includes data for adolescents living within a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and outside an MSA.
Author(s): Rebecca T. Leeb, Melissa L. Danielson, Rebecca H. Bitsko, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(34), 1156-1160
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Addressing Opioid Use in Rural Communities: Examples from Critical Access Hospitals
Highlights strategies adopted by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to combat opioid use in their communities. Describes lessons learned from the featured CAHs regarding the development and implementation of projects targeting opioid use. Identifies ways that State Flex Programs and State Offices of Rural Health can support the efforts of CAHs in addressing opioid use in their communities. Provides list of opioid-related resources for CAHs and State Flex Programs.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Karen Pearson, Nathan First
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Addressing Rural Health Disparities in a Pandemic
Public Health Review podcast in which 3 speakers discuss the impact of COVID-19 on rural health infrastructure and workforce. Describes how to improve conditions in rural communities, increase access to quality healthcare, and implement innovative strategies for health workforce recruitment and retention.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Texas SORH Fosters Quality Champions in Rural Hospitals Across the State
Details how the Texas State Office of Rural Health (SORH) developed a Quality Improvement Training Program (QITP) and associated fellowship program to improve rural healthcare quality in the state's hospitals. The QITP trains participants, helps them become certified for the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam, and encourages them to complete quality improvement projects within local hospitals.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Insights for What Enhances or Undermines Trust in Hospital Settings
Reviews research on the trust populations in rural and underserved areas have in hospitals. Highlights dimensions of patient trust identified by researchers. Profiles a study by the Colorado Hospital Association examining the relationship between patient and family engagement activities and patient trust in rural hospitals. Includes a discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Bonnie Austin Cluxton
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: AcademyHealth
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Advancing Rural Health: Nursing Education, Policy, and Practice
Recording of a presentation on June 17, 2020, featuring discussion on educational and policy-related nursing practices necessary for providing socially and culturally appropriate healthcare to individuals in rural areas. Presented at the 2020 National Rural Health Association Annual Conference.
Date: 06/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
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CMS Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced Model: Year 1 Evaluation Annual Report
A formative evaluation of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced) Model, which tests whether linking payments for a clinical episode of care can reduce Medicare expenditures while maintaining or improving quality of care. Covers the period from October 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Describes participants in the model, clinical episodes included, and the reach of the model. Includes information on rural hospital participation in the model.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Author(s): The Lewin Group, Abt Associates, GDIT, Telligen
Date: 06/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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