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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality

Medicare Performance-Based Payment Adjustment Programs
Describes three Medicare Performance-Based Payment Adjustment programs for hospitals: the Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP), the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), and the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program (HVBPP). Explains how these programs may affect rural hospitals.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Three Annual Report
Third annual report detailing the findings of CMS's State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont - to accelerate health system transformation in the areas of delivery systems, payment models, information technology, workforce development, and more. Focuses on sharing cross-state progress and findings, state-specific findings and lessons learned, and lessons for policymakers. Additional emphasis is placed on monitoring healthcare experience, utilization, and expenditures in participating SIM states.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Telehealth and Patient Satisfaction: A Systematic Review and Narrative Analysis
Provides a literature review on articles related to patient satisfaction of telehealth regarding its effectiveness and efficiency. Discusses factors such as cost, health outcomes, quality, ease of use, communication, drive time, access to healthcare, and more, with references to telehealth impacts specific to rural populations.
Author(s): Clemens Scott Kruse, Nicole Krowski, Blanca Rodriguez, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 7(8)
Date: 08/2017
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Round 2: Model Design Final Report
Shares results from a federal evaluation of the Round 2 State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative awards, which focused on reforming payment and delivery systems, health information exchanges, workforce development, and sustainability. Provides a summary and review of each awardees' final State Health System Innovations Plan (SHSIP). Includes several suggestions and recommendations for improving rural healthcare delivery, payment, and access.
Author(s): Donald Nichols, Kathleen Farrell, Marisa Morrison, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medical-Legal Partnership Addresses Social Determinants of Health
Explores how FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a private, nonprofit healthcare network based in Pinehurst, North Carolina, reduced emergency department utilization and hospital readmission rates systemwide through the use of transitional care clinics (TCCs) and medical-legal partnerships (MLPs). Highlights how addressing non-medical factors can affect health outcomes.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Advances in Patient Safety and Medical Liability
Explains the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Patient Safety and Medical Liability (PSML) Initiative, and shares contributions and findings from the PSML planning and demonstration grant projects. Includes two commentaries and nine papers organized around two main themes: improving communication and improving patient safety. Rural-specific considerations discussed throughout.
Author(s): James Battles, Irim Azam, Mary Grady, Kathryn Reback
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Coteau des Prairies Keeping Services Close to Home
Follows South Dakota-based Coteau des Prairies Health System's (CDP) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) project. CDP completed a financial operational assessment (FOA) with the goal of positioning the hospital for future financial success. Primary areas of improvement include revenue cycle management, HCAHPS scores, executive communication, and swing bed utilization.
Additional links: One-Page Summary
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Value-Based Strategic Planning Guide: 2017 Rural Hospital Value-Based Strategy Summit
Customizable strategy resources to help small and rural hospital leaders develop, manage, measure, and implement their strategic plans. Templates focus on preparing rural hospitals to transition to value-based care and population health.
Additional links: Balanced Scorecard Template, Strategy Map Template
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Creating a Framework to Support Measure Development for Telehealth
Reports on efforts intended to advance telehealth quality measurement by developers, researchers, analysts, and other members of the healthcare community. Includes case studies of several programs geared toward patients in rural areas.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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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
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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