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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Planning and strategy methods and resources

Inclusive Public Health Preparedness Program to Promote Resilience in Rural Appalachia (2016–2018)
Describes a collaborative planning process for responding to public health emergencies in a rural Appalachian setting where citizens are more vulnerable to emergencies and natural disasters. Emphasizes the importance of including rural populations with access and functional needs in the planning process to create all-inclusive, all-hazards emergency response services.
Author(s): Jennifer Schroeder, Erin Bouldin
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(Suppl 4), S283-S285
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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A Framework for Evaluating the Return on Investment of Telehealth
Proposes a framework for calculating the return on investment (ROI) of a telehealth program. Identifies principles and considerations related to evaluating telehealth ROI. Includes a case study focused on a rural community hospital implementing a telecardiology program. Another case study features a hospital system with a tertiary hospital and smaller community hospitals adding pre-transfer video consults.
Author(s): Jacqueline Marks, Jared Augenstein, Anthony Brown, Sol Lee
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Manatt Health Strategies
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Promising Practice: NY State Office of Rural Health Leans Into More Efficient Work
Features a project underway at the New York State Office of Rural Health to find more efficiency in the way it operates, building on a statewide Lean Initiative. Highlights how the office is applying Lean principles to its contract work.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Organizational Challenges to Improving Quality of Care in Indian Health Service Hospitals
Identifies organizational issues hindering the Indian Health Service (IHS) from improving the management of IHS hospitals. Discusses concerns related to formal structure, policies and roles; awareness of hospital performance and problems; and IHS officials' confidence in the agency's ability to make sustained improvements. Recommends strategies for improvement.
Author(s): Suzanne Murrin
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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A Rising Tide: Increasing Rural Local Health Department Capacity to Address the Social Determinants of Health
Describes unique challenges faced by rural local health departments (LHDs), as well as assets such as community connectivity and trusted local institutions. Explores the ways in which partnerships, leadership, community engagement, data and evaluation, and community health improvement planning function as foundational elements in addressing social determinants of health in rural communities.
Author(s): Karla Feeser, Melissa Mayer, Ashley Edmiston
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Healthcare System Readiness Measurement Framework
Offers an all-hazards measurement framework to help healthcare systems evaluate their readiness to respond to disasters and emergencies. The framework was developed to cover mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services. Includes some considerations specific to rural areas.
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Measuring Access to Care in National Surveys: Implications for Rural Health
Policy position brief reviewing access measures used in major national surveys and discussing implications for rural research on access to care. Features tables showing surveys, populations studied, and geographic measures; example survey questions for each access domain; and access to care measures in nationally-representative surveys.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Ashley M. Hernandez, Hannah Neprash, Megan Lahr
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Management Methodologies and Value-based Strategies: An Overview for Rural Health Care Leaders
Provides an overview of 8 common management methods for transitioning healthcare organizations to value-based care. Discusses considerations for rural healthcare leaders and provides information and resources for each management method.
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Idaho Community Paramedic Toolkit
Toolkit providing step-by-step instructions on how to develop, operate, and evaluate a Community Paramedic program. Includes tools, resources, guidelines, and recommendations.
Author(s): Anne Montera, Christopher Montera, Pat Songer, Mikaela Greene
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
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Identification of High-Need Rural Counties to Assist in Resource Location Planning for Primary Care
Demonstrates a selection process to sort counties by health and healthcare needs, and to identify areas with poor health outcomes and limited access to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Features statistics and county-level maps showing distribution of safety net providers in rural counties, distribution of average decile scores for health outcomes, socioeconomic characteristics, health behaviors, access to healthcare, and physical environment, among rural counties without an RHC and an FQHC.
Author(s): Charity B. Breneman, Jan M. Eberth, Janice C. Probst
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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