Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals
Rural Emergency Hospitals: Emerging Patterns of Adaptation and Community Perception
Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
view details
Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
view details
Simulation on Wheels: How Mobile Training Is Saving Lives in Rural Iowa
Podcast episode that discusses Simulation in Motion-Iowa (SIM-IA), a mobile clinical education program that provides rural hospitals and emergency medical service (EMS) professionals training experience in healthcare emergencies. Discusses the importance of SIM-IA in rural healthcare education to promote quality and patient safety in EMS and trauma situations.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Jacinda Bunch, Tina Eden
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Podcast episode that discusses Simulation in Motion-Iowa (SIM-IA), a mobile clinical education program that provides rural hospitals and emergency medical service (EMS) professionals training experience in healthcare emergencies. Discusses the importance of SIM-IA in rural healthcare education to promote quality and patient safety in EMS and trauma situations.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Jacinda Bunch, Tina Eden
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2023: A State-by-State Report
Provides national, state, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care access from 2010-2023. Displays county-level maps of changes in hospital-based services availability between 2010-2023, highlighting changes from 2022 to 2023. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural counties.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Provides national, state, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care access from 2010-2023. Displays county-level maps of changes in hospital-based services availability between 2010-2023, highlighting changes from 2022 to 2023. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural counties.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Predictors of Inpatient RN Turnover in Rural and Urban VHA Hospitals
A study on the rates and associated factors of registered nursing (RN) workforce turnover in rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. Breaks down data by RN demographic factors, such as age, salary, and experience within the VHA, and hospital factors, such as average age, average base salary, and average number of units worked, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine G. Bay, Chase S. Eck, Melissa K. Knox, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S9-S17
Date: 01/2026
view details
A study on the rates and associated factors of registered nursing (RN) workforce turnover in rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals. Breaks down data by RN demographic factors, such as age, salary, and experience within the VHA, and hospital factors, such as average age, average base salary, and average number of units worked, among other factors.
Author(s): Katherine G. Bay, Chase S. Eck, Melissa K. Knox, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 64(1S), S9-S17
Date: 01/2026
view details
Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Model Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Location of Critical Access Hospitals
U.S. map showing Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Updated quarterly.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
U.S. map showing Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Updated quarterly.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
U.S. Hospital List (2025)
Excel file providing a comprehensive list of urban and rural U.S. hospitals that were reported open as of January 1, 2025. Includes 4,541 acute care hospitals and 1,472 specialty hospitals.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Excel file providing a comprehensive list of urban and rural U.S. hospitals that were reported open as of January 1, 2025. Includes 4,541 acute care hospitals and 1,472 specialty hospitals.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Updated Locations of Hospitals with a Labor and Delivery Unit in Pennsylvania, 2026
County-level map showing locations of the 75 Pennsylvania hospitals with labor and delivery units, and shadings showing counties with no labor and delivery units.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
County-level map showing locations of the 75 Pennsylvania hospitals with labor and delivery units, and shadings showing counties with no labor and delivery units.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals, 2026
Offers resources highlighting data from the 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. Provides data on the number of hospitals by type, ownership, system-affiliated versus independent, and rural versus urban location. Includes an interactive map of community hospitals in the United States.
Additional links: Infographics from Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals, 2026
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Offers resources highlighting data from the 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. Provides data on the number of hospitals by type, ownership, system-affiliated versus independent, and rural versus urban location. Includes an interactive map of community hospitals in the United States.
Additional links: Infographics from Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals, 2026
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Access to Capital for Rural Hospitals
Policy brief discussing the importance of rural hospitals having access to capital funding. Discusses previous federal efforts to improve access to capital and common types of capital used for healthcare projects. Offers policy recommendations for improving rural hospitals' access to capital for facility improvements.
Author(s): Britton Herbert, Lauren LaPine-Ray, Mat Slaybaugh
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy brief discussing the importance of rural hospitals having access to capital funding. Discusses previous federal efforts to improve access to capital and common types of capital used for healthcare projects. Offers policy recommendations for improving rural hospitals' access to capital for facility improvements.
Author(s): Britton Herbert, Lauren LaPine-Ray, Mat Slaybaugh
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details