Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Surgery
Pennsylvania Common Procedures Report 2024
Provides information about the performance and utilization of Pennsylvania hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers for spinal fusion, total hip replacement, and total knee replacement, using data from October 2023 through September 2024. Includes hospitalization rates for each procedure by urban and rural areas, among other breakdowns.
Additional links: Summary and Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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Provides information about the performance and utilization of Pennsylvania hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers for spinal fusion, total hip replacement, and total knee replacement, using data from October 2023 through September 2024. Includes hospitalization rates for each procedure by urban and rural areas, among other breakdowns.
Additional links: Summary and Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
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Colorectal Cancer Survival Disparities in Persistent Poverty Areas
Presents a study exploring the effect of living in a persistent poverty census tract on colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in both rural and urban locations. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and tumor location, among other measures. Draws data from 2013-2019 cancer registry and 2013-2021 death records.
Author(s): Peter DelNero, Mario Schootman, Cheng Peng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70045
Date: 09/2025
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Presents a study exploring the effect of living in a persistent poverty census tract on colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in both rural and urban locations. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and tumor location, among other measures. Draws data from 2013-2019 cancer registry and 2013-2021 death records.
Author(s): Peter DelNero, Mario Schootman, Cheng Peng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70045
Date: 09/2025
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The South Carolina Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Workforce | 2022
Self-reported information about certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) actively employed as nurses in South Carolina, as part of the biennial license renewal process ending on April 30, 2022. Features demographics and statistics including change in the size of the South Carolina CRNA workforce from 2012-2022 with breakdowns by 3 levels of population density, and a county-level map showing locations of active CRNAs as of 2022, which shadings showing rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Cate Campbell, K. Gaul
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium
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Self-reported information about certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) actively employed as nurses in South Carolina, as part of the biennial license renewal process ending on April 30, 2022. Features demographics and statistics including change in the size of the South Carolina CRNA workforce from 2012-2022 with breakdowns by 3 levels of population density, and a county-level map showing locations of active CRNAs as of 2022, which shadings showing rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Cate Campbell, K. Gaul
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium
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Payment Source Shift for Surgical Care Among Veterans Enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans
Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
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Managing Simulated Anesthesia Emergencies with the Use of Clinical Decision Support Systems in a Rural Hospital Setting
Reports on certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) performance with and without the use of a EHR-based clinical decision support system during a simulated acute malignant hyperthermia emergency at a rural hospital in New Mexico. Discusses challenges of responding to anesthesia emergencies in rural settings.
Author(s): David Good, Sharon Schaaf
Citation: AANA Journal, 93(2), 105-115
Date: 04/2025
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Reports on certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) performance with and without the use of a EHR-based clinical decision support system during a simulated acute malignant hyperthermia emergency at a rural hospital in New Mexico. Discusses challenges of responding to anesthesia emergencies in rural settings.
Author(s): David Good, Sharon Schaaf
Citation: AANA Journal, 93(2), 105-115
Date: 04/2025
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Barriers to Surgical Health Care Access in Rural Communities
Discusses surgical healthcare worker shortages in rural communities and strategies to recruit and retain future surgeons. Provides information on the subspeciality in rural areas and the importance of access to surgical care.
Author(s): Kimberly Miller-Hammond, David Anderson,
Citation: The American Surgeon, 91(5)
Date: 02/2025
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Discusses surgical healthcare worker shortages in rural communities and strategies to recruit and retain future surgeons. Provides information on the subspeciality in rural areas and the importance of access to surgical care.
Author(s): Kimberly Miller-Hammond, David Anderson,
Citation: The American Surgeon, 91(5)
Date: 02/2025
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Trends in Travel Time to Obtain Surgical Care for Rural Patients
Research letter analyzing travel time to surgical care in rural areas between 2010 and 2020, utilizing Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data. Includes data comparing annual change by surgical procedure type among rural and nonrural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Reagan A. Collins, Nicholas Kunnath, Janice C. Probst, Andrew M. Ibrahim
Citation: JAMA
Date: 02/2025
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Research letter analyzing travel time to surgical care in rural areas between 2010 and 2020, utilizing Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data. Includes data comparing annual change by surgical procedure type among rural and nonrural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Reagan A. Collins, Nicholas Kunnath, Janice C. Probst, Andrew M. Ibrahim
Citation: JAMA
Date: 02/2025
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AHRQ Summit to Address Emergency Department Boarding: Technical Report
Report from an October 2024 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) summit to discuss emergency department boarding. Examines some of emergency physicians' biggest concerns and highlights possible solutions to address boarding head-on, including enhancing measurement and standards, re-aligning hospital incentives, and increasing support to empower emergency physicians to do their jobs effectively. Includes sections on rural patients and rural areas.
Author(s): Robin M. Weinick, Sean Bruna, Rachael M. Boicourt, Sean S. Michael, Laura L. Sessums
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Report from an October 2024 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) summit to discuss emergency department boarding. Examines some of emergency physicians' biggest concerns and highlights possible solutions to address boarding head-on, including enhancing measurement and standards, re-aligning hospital incentives, and increasing support to empower emergency physicians to do their jobs effectively. Includes sections on rural patients and rural areas.
Author(s): Robin M. Weinick, Sean Bruna, Rachael M. Boicourt, Sean S. Michael, Laura L. Sessums
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Association of a State-Wide Alternative Payment Model for Rural Hospitals with Bypass for Elective Surgeries
Examines the impact of the payment model, Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), on rural hospital bypass for elective surgeries. Utilizes 2016-2022 all-payer visit-level inpatient discharge data to measure 175,138 surgeries in Pennsylvania, with data on risk level of elective surgery, hospital type, payer type, and more.
Author(s): Donald S. Bourne, Zhaojun Sun, Bruce L. Jacobs, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 01/2025
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Examines the impact of the payment model, Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), on rural hospital bypass for elective surgeries. Utilizes 2016-2022 all-payer visit-level inpatient discharge data to measure 175,138 surgeries in Pennsylvania, with data on risk level of elective surgery, hospital type, payer type, and more.
Author(s): Donald S. Bourne, Zhaojun Sun, Bruce L. Jacobs, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 01/2025
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Current Attitudes and Barriers Among Appalachian Patients Towards Orthopaedic Surgery
Describes challenges faced by southern West Virginia rural residents in accessing orthopedic care, due to geographic and socioeconomic barriers. Uses data from 132 electronic surveys collected from patients during an appointment with their primary care provider at an affiliated outreach clinic.
Author(s): Dylan Smith, Justin B. West, Wade Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 67-80
Date: 01/2025
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Describes challenges faced by southern West Virginia rural residents in accessing orthopedic care, due to geographic and socioeconomic barriers. Uses data from 132 electronic surveys collected from patients during an appointment with their primary care provider at an affiliated outreach clinic.
Author(s): Dylan Smith, Justin B. West, Wade Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 67-80
Date: 01/2025
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