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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

A Comparison of Rural Hospitals with Special Medicare Payment Provisions to Urban and Rural Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment
Compares the financial performance and condition of rural hospitals with special Medicare payment provisions - Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Medicare Dependent Hospitals (MDHs), Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs), and Rural Referral Centers (RRCs) - to urban and rural hospitals paid under prospective payment.
Additional links: Findings Brief: A Financial Comparison of Rural Hospitals With Special Medicare Payment Provisions to Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment, 4/2010, Findings Brief: Profitability of Rural Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment Compared to Rural Hospitals with Special Medicare Payment Provisions, 9/2010
Author(s): G. Mark Holmes, George H. Pink, Sarah A. Friedman, Hilda A. Howard
Date: 08/2010
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Future of Family Medicine and Implications for Rural Primary Care Physician Supply
Examines the rural physician shortage, the effect of recent trends in specialty choice on provider supply, and major trends that are changing the dynamics that shape the delivery of healthcare. Identifies policy options that could help increase the number of rural family medicine physicians.
Additional links: Policy Brief, June 2009
Author(s): Roger A. Rosenblatt, Frederick M. Chen, Denise M. Lishner, Mark P. Doescher
Date: 08/2010
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Use of Emergency Departments for Conditions Related to Poor Oral Health Care
Reports findings from a study of seven states that looked at use of emergency departments to address oral health needs. Provides data for rural and urban areas and discusses the potential impacts of differences in state Medicaid policies.
Author(s): Emily F. Shortridge, Jonathan R. Moore
Date: 08/2010
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Family Medicine Residency Training in Rural Locations
Reports findings from a survey of U.S. family medicine residency programs about the current status and location of their rural training for residents. Includes information on small rural, large rural, and urban programs.
Author(s): Frederick M. Chen, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Mark P. Doescher, Carl Morris
Date: 07/2010
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Homelessness: Better Collaboration by HHS and HUD Could Improve Delivery of Services in Rural Areas
Discusses a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the characteristics of rural homelessness, available assistance, and barriers. Includes information on federal programs, with data on funding provided to rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report, Highlights
Date: 07/2010
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties
Compares food insecurity for rural versus urban counties and addresses factors contributing to food insecurity risk, as well as associated health outcomes.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Joel Halverson, Cheryl Brown, Melissa Olfert, Melissa Ahern, Christiaan Abildso
Date: 06/2010
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
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Patient Assessments and Quality of Care in Rural Hospitals
Analyzes the relationships between rural patients' perspectives of hospital quality of care and key hospital characteristics that may influence patients' experiences of hospital care. Includes some breakdowns for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Uses data from the Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Michelle M. Casey, Gestur Davidson
Date: 06/2010
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
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MedPAC Report to Congress: Aligning Incentives in Medicare, June 2010
Focuses on how incentives in the Medicare program can be leveraged to promote healthcare quality and efficient use of resources, both of which are key elements of a high-value healthcare delivery system. Includes chapters focused on graduate medical education financing and inpatient psychiatric care.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2010
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Perspectives on Civil Protective Orders in Domestic Violence Cases: The Rural and Urban Divide
Discusses the barriers to getting restraining orders for rural and urban domestic violence victims.
Author(s): Nikki Hawkins
Citation: NIJ Journal, 266
Date: 05/2010
Sponsoring organization: National Institute of Justice
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Pediatric Care in Rural Hospital Emergency Departments
Analyzes data from the Emergency Pediatric Services and Equipment Supplement (EPSES) to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey comparing rural and urban hospitals' responses on various dimensions of pediatric emergency department care.
Author(s): Victoria A. Freeman, Randy K. Randolph, Stephanie Poley, Sarah Friedman, Rebecca T. Slifkin
Date: 05/2010
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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