Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Surgery
Trauma and Emergency Surgical Care at Rural Emergency Hospital-Eligible Facilities: Interstate Variation and Policy Implications for Rural Health Systems
Explores trauma and emergency general surgery volumes at hospitals eligible to become Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). Analyzes 2021 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data from California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, and Wisconsin, to describe the volume of emergency general surgery and trauma care performed at REH-eligible hospitals. Examines the characteristics of the populations and communities served by hospitals eligible for REH designation compared with those served by REH-ineligible hospitals. Discusses the potential impact of converting to the REH designation on access to trauma and emergency general surgery.
Author(s): Nina M. Clark, Alexandra H. Hernandez, Cody L. Mullens, et al.
Citation: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 100(5), 768-776
Date: 01/2026
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Explores trauma and emergency general surgery volumes at hospitals eligible to become Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). Analyzes 2021 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data from California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, and Wisconsin, to describe the volume of emergency general surgery and trauma care performed at REH-eligible hospitals. Examines the characteristics of the populations and communities served by hospitals eligible for REH designation compared with those served by REH-ineligible hospitals. Discusses the potential impact of converting to the REH designation on access to trauma and emergency general surgery.
Author(s): Nina M. Clark, Alexandra H. Hernandez, Cody L. Mullens, et al.
Citation: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 100(5), 768-776
Date: 01/2026
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Directory of Mississippi Health Facilities
Directory of Mississippi health facilities with address, phone number, and accreditation status if applicable, current as of November 5, 2025. Includes a list of rural health facilities on pages 87-98.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi State Department of Health
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Directory of Mississippi health facilities with address, phone number, and accreditation status if applicable, current as of November 5, 2025. Includes a list of rural health facilities on pages 87-98.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi State Department of Health
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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, with 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, with 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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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, 60(3), e14442
Date: 06/2025
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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, 60(3), e14442
Date: 06/2025
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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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Social Determinants of Health and Variability in Treatment for Patients with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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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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The Effect of Rurality on Time to Surgery and Overall Survival among Women with Breast Cancer
Explores interactions between rurality, geographic proximity to care, time to surgery, and overall survival among women with Stage 0-III breast cancer, using 2004-2019 National Cancer Database data.
Author(s): Kriyana P. Reddy, Cara L. Berkowitz, Kathleen Jarrell, et al.
Citation: Annals of Surgery, 284(2), 288-295
Date: 03/2025
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Explores interactions between rurality, geographic proximity to care, time to surgery, and overall survival among women with Stage 0-III breast cancer, using 2004-2019 National Cancer Database data.
Author(s): Kriyana P. Reddy, Cara L. Berkowitz, Kathleen Jarrell, et al.
Citation: Annals of Surgery, 284(2), 288-295
Date: 03/2025
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