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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care

Improving Access to High Quality Sepsis Care in a South Dakota Emergency Telemedicine Network
Research and policy brief exploring whether emergency department-based telemedicine networks using real-time access to sepsis experts can improve outcomes and decrease variation in care. Discusses a pilot program for Critical Access Hospitals in South Dakota-based Avera Health's 140-hospital network in 12 states. Includes statistics for patients with positive sepsis screens from September 2016 to March 2017.
Author(s): Nicholas M. Mohr, Brian Skow, Amy Wittrock, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Evaluation of Diabetic Retinal Screening and Factors for Ophthalmology Referral in a Telemedicine Network
Examines telemedicine retinal screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) among type 1 or type 2 diabetics in rural and underserved communities in North Carolina. Discusses geographic and socioeconomic challenges that lead to disparities in screening and treatment for DR, exploring telehealth's potential to expand access. Analyzes data on patient characteristics, diagnoses, and referrals.
Author(s): Pooja Jani, Lauren Forbes, Arkopal Choudhury, et al.
Citation: JAMA Opthalmology, 135(7), 706-714
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
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Changes in the Physician Workforce in South Carolina: 2009-2015
Summarizes changes in South Carolina's physician workforce, based on data the physicians provided when renewing their licenses in 2009 and 2015. Features statistics including numbers of physicians with breakdowns by specialties, geographic region, and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural location, as well as gains and losses in rural areas.
Date: 05/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Office for Healthcare Workforce
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The Influence of the Degree of Rurality on EMR Adoption, by Physician Specialty
Study examining the adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) technology based on degree of rurality using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes. Analyzes 2012 data from over 270,000 physician practices on rates of EMR technology adoption and provider specializations. Presents data based on average daily patient volume and type of provider, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Author(s): Brian E. Whitacre
Citation: Health Services Research, 52(2), 616-633
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
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Nonmedical Out-of-Pocket Patient and Companion Expenditures Associated With Glaucoma Care
Discusses and evaluates predictors of patient expenditures to assess cost-effectiveness of glaucoma treatment, using data from 300 patients whose median age was 66 years. Features demographic statistics including breakdowns by urban, suburban, or rural location.
Author(s): Emily M. Schehlein, Lily T. Im, Alan L. Robin, Eberechukwu Onukwugha, Osamah J. Saeedi
Citation: Journal of Glaucoma, 26(4), 343-348
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
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Using Telemedicine to Increase Access, Improve Care in Rural Communities
Examines Avera Health, an integrated delivery system based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to highlight how telehealth can be used to improve access in rural areas. Avera offers "eEmergency" telehealth services to more than 130 rural hospitals and "ePharmacy" services to roughly 75 rural hospitals, and other telehealth services. Discusses Avera's expansion into other areas where provider recruitment may be difficult, including prisons, schools, and long-term care facilities.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Martha Hostetter
Citation: Transforming Care: Reporting on Health System Improvement
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: Rural OsteoPorosis Evaluation Service (ROPES)
Highlights the Rural Osteoporosis Evaluation Service (ROPES) as a promising practice for evaluating and treating osteoporosis in rural veterans. Features implementation information and results from the Durham VAMC in North Carolina.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: GRECC Connect Project: Connecting Rural Providers with Geriatric Specialists Through Telemedicine
Describes the efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs to support the rural elderly veteran population through implementation of telemedicine services originating at Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECCs).
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) in Multiple Sclerosis: Increasing Clinician Capacity
Reports on a pilot program conducted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and faculty from the University of Washington School of Medicine using the Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO) model. Determines if the Project Echo model was a viable option to support the capacity of clinicians in rural areas to effectively treat patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in underserved areas.
Author(s): Kurt L. Johnson, Deborah Hertz, Gary Stobbe, et al.
Citation: International Journal of MS Care, 9(6), 283–289
Date: 2017
Type: Document
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Does Your State Face Rural Area Provider Shortages?
Shares the percentage of each state's population living in a rural county, along with the following rural and urban healthcare workforce statistics: number of specialists per 100,000 population, number of primary care providers (PCPs) per 100,000 population, and the percent of counties that are wholly designated primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
Date: 2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Healthcare Value Hub
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