Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals
COVID-19 National Emergency: Early Trends in Hospitalizations for Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program Health Conditions and 30-Day Readmission Rates
Provides an overview of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Describes monthly trends in hospitalizations of Medicare beneficiaries for HRRP conditions before and after the implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures through September 30, 2020. Examines how monthly trends in unadjusted 30-day readmission rates before and after implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures and how these rates differ by sociodemographic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses policy opportunities and interventions to enhance post-discharge follow-up and reduce readmission rates.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Describes monthly trends in hospitalizations of Medicare beneficiaries for HRRP conditions before and after the implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures through September 30, 2020. Examines how monthly trends in unadjusted 30-day readmission rates before and after implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures and how these rates differ by sociodemographic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses policy opportunities and interventions to enhance post-discharge follow-up and reduce readmission rates.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Overview of Major Ambulatory Surgeries Performed in Hospital-Owned Facilities, 2019
Presents data on major ambulatory surgeries performed in hospital-owned facilities using the 2019 Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample (NASS). Includes statistics on ambulatory surgeries by patient and hospital characteristics, including age, community income, patient and hospital location, and primary expected payer.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Presents data on major ambulatory surgeries performed in hospital-owned facilities using the 2019 Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample (NASS). Includes statistics on ambulatory surgeries by patient and hospital characteristics, including age, community income, patient and hospital location, and primary expected payer.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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December 2021 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2021 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on changes to the low-volume hospital payment adjustment, physician and other health professional services, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, and hospice services. Highlights the effect of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospital margins, rural hospital bypass, and rural hospice payment utilization, among other rural references.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2021 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on changes to the low-volume hospital payment adjustment, physician and other health professional services, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, and hospice services. Highlights the effect of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospital margins, rural hospital bypass, and rural hospice payment utilization, among other rural references.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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For-profit Hospitals as Anchor Institutions in the United States: A Study of Organizational Stability
Examines whether for-profit hospitals are stable enough to fulfill the role of long-standing anchor institutions through a long-term presence in communities. Analyzes if for-profit hospitals had higher odds of closing and merging, and discusses the potential economic contributions of for-profit anchor institution hospitals to the surrounding community. Includes statistics by hospital characteristics, including rural location, and a discussion of rural hospital closures.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Cory E. Cronin, Vanessa Rodriguez, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 21
Date: 12/2021
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Examines whether for-profit hospitals are stable enough to fulfill the role of long-standing anchor institutions through a long-term presence in communities. Analyzes if for-profit hospitals had higher odds of closing and merging, and discusses the potential economic contributions of for-profit anchor institution hospitals to the surrounding community. Includes statistics by hospital characteristics, including rural location, and a discussion of rural hospital closures.
Author(s): Berkeley Franz, Cory E. Cronin, Vanessa Rodriguez, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 21
Date: 12/2021
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Outcome Measures for State Flex Program Financial and Operational Improvement Interventions
Discusses strategies for State Flex Programs (SFP) to monitor Critical Access Hospital (CAH) financial and operational improvement (FOI) interventions and the underlying theories of the activities. Provides recommendations for short- and intermediate-term outcome measures to assist SFPs in monitoring FOI initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zach Croll
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Discusses strategies for State Flex Programs (SFP) to monitor Critical Access Hospital (CAH) financial and operational improvement (FOI) interventions and the underlying theories of the activities. Provides recommendations for short- and intermediate-term outcome measures to assist SFPs in monitoring FOI initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zach Croll
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE - Patient and Family Engagement
Podcast episode discussing ways two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) engage patients and families in the healthcare process, how the CAHs gather feedback about the patient and family experiences, and how the CAHs use this information to inform their quality improvement efforts. Also describes how the COVID-19 pandemic affected patient experience and engagement activities.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Podcast episode discussing ways two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) engage patients and families in the healthcare process, how the CAHs gather feedback about the patient and family experiences, and how the CAHs use this information to inform their quality improvement efforts. Also describes how the COVID-19 pandemic affected patient experience and engagement activities.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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A Predictive Model of Hospital Choice for Rural Residents Seeking Surgery
Webinar discussing research on factors impacting rural patient choice for inpatient surgery. Discusses healthcare quality and patient outcomes in Critical Access Hospitals, the impact of patient bypass on rural facilities, and characteristics of hospitals, patients, and surgeries associated with bypass. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Webinar discussing research on factors impacting rural patient choice for inpatient surgery. Discusses healthcare quality and patient outcomes in Critical Access Hospitals, the impact of patient bypass on rural facilities, and characteristics of hospitals, patients, and surgeries associated with bypass. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Emergency Department Visits for Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm in Rural and Urban Youth
Presents a study comparing rates of emergency room visits among youth aged 5 to 19 for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by age, household income, and rural-urban hospital status, among other measures.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Hoffmann, Matt Hall, Doug Lorenz, Jay Berry
Citation: The Journal of Pediatrics, 238, 282-289
Date: 11/2021
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Presents a study comparing rates of emergency room visits among youth aged 5 to 19 for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by age, household income, and rural-urban hospital status, among other measures.
Author(s): Jennifer A. Hoffmann, Matt Hall, Doug Lorenz, Jay Berry
Citation: The Journal of Pediatrics, 238, 282-289
Date: 11/2021
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Technical Assistance Helps Community #SilencetheShameTN
Features behavioral and mental health programming offered by Henry County Medical Center and the community of Paris, Tennessee. Describes technical assistance and resources provided by the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development program to support this effort.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features behavioral and mental health programming offered by Henry County Medical Center and the community of Paris, Tennessee. Describes technical assistance and resources provided by the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development program to support this effort.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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The COVID-19 Pandemic's Impact on Rural Hospital Staffing
Summarizes the results of a survey of rural hospital leaders between September 21, 2021 - October 15, 2021, regarding COVID-19 vaccination among rural hospital personnel. Discusses the prevalence of vaccine mandates at rural hospitals and the impact of staffing shortages on access to care.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: The Chartis Group
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Summarizes the results of a survey of rural hospital leaders between September 21, 2021 - October 15, 2021, regarding COVID-19 vaccination among rural hospital personnel. Discusses the prevalence of vaccine mandates at rural hospitals and the impact of staffing shortages on access to care.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: The Chartis Group
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