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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Medicare Could Have Saved Billions at Critical Access Hospitals If Swing-Bed Services Were Reimbursed Using the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Rates
Reports the Inspector General's findings from a study of swing bed services and reimbursement at Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Addresses changes in swing bed usage over time and examines the potential impact to Medicare of reimbursing swing bed services at skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) rates.
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Teaching Health Centers: A Promising Approach for Building Primary Care Workforce for the 21st Century
Provides information about Teaching Health Centers (THC), including the number of physicians choosing primary care following residency, location of practice, number of patients served by THCs, and characteristics of patients. Also discusses the impact that loss of federal funding may have on this graduate medical education training program.
Author(s): Leighton Ku, Fitzhugh Mullan, Cristine Serrano, Zoe Barber, Peter Shin
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management
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The Role of Health Literacy and Communication Habits on Previous Colorectal Cancer Screening among Low-Income and Uninsured Patients
Presents an analysis of a survey of low-income uninsured patients in rural and urban areas who received financial help for a colonoscopy in a primary care clinic to identify any significant relationships between limited health literacy, communication skills, and adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines.
Author(s): Chinedum O. Ojinnaka, Jane N. Bolin, David A. McClellan, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 2, 158-163
Date: 02/2015
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Reducing Cancer Screening Disparities in Medicare Beneficiaries Through Cancer Patient Navigation
Features a study of an intervention to counter the cancer screening disparities of Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander Medicare beneficiaries in rural Hawaii. Breaks down data by race, age, and comorbidity, among other factors.
Author(s): Kathryn L. Braun, William L. Thomas Jr, Jermy‐Leigh B. Domingo, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 63(2), 365-370
Date: 02/2015
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Emergency Department Use in the US-Mexico Border Region and Violence in Mexico: Is There a Relationship?
Presents a study on the potential correlation between emergency department use and violence in Mexico along the U.S.-Mexico border. Breaks down data by state, payer, and patient characteristics, among other factors.
Author(s): Kimberley H. Geissler, George M. Holmes
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(3), 316-325
Date: 02/2015
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Evaluation of a Pilot Healthy Eating Intervention in Restaurants and Food Stores of a Rural Community: A Randomized Community Trial
Examines 2 rural Midwest U.S. communities, one community serving as the control and the other receiving the Waupaca Eating Smart (WES) intervention designed to improve the food environment and promote healthy eating in restaurants and supermarkets. Includes statistics on nutrition environment scores, customer satisfaction with food choice availability, and food purchase history for both before and after the intervention.
Author(s): Ana P. Martínez-Donate, Ann Josie Riggall, Amy M. Meinen, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 15, 136
Date: 02/2015
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Telemedicine for Children with Developmental Disabilities: A More Effective Clinical Process than Office-Based Care
Examines the Tele-Health-Kids, a school-based program using asynchronous telemedicine to connect children with developmental disabilities with their primary care physician for the treatment of minor illnesses in rural Ohio. Includes data on the chronic conditions of children with developmental disabilities enrolled in the program and survey responses from parents on the expectations, concerns, and post-visit outcomes for the Tele-Health-Kids program.
Author(s): Diane L. Langkamp, Mark D. McManus, Susan D. Blakemore
Citation: Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 21(2), 110-114
Date: 02/2015
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Appalachia Then and Now: Examining Changes to the Appalachian Region since 1965
Presents a comparison of collected data on the Appalachian region from the 1960s and 2010s. Discusses a variety of determinants of health, including poverty, mortality, infrastructure, and employment, among others. Document includes Executive Summary, Technical Report, and State Meetings Report.
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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National Rural HIT Coalition Meeting
Details the minutes of a National Rural Health Information Technology Coalition face-to-face meeting in Washington D.C. Discusses a number of national and federal updates, as well as telehealth expansion and population health integration.
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Arizona Rural Health Clinic Designation Manual
An instruction manual designed to help rural clinics in Arizona determine if becoming a federally designated Rural Health Clinic (RHC) is appropriate for their organization. Describes the fiscal benefits of becoming a RHC, the licensing and certification requirements, and provides guidance through the application process.
Author(s): Joyce A. Hospodar
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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