Rural Healthcare Quality – Models and Innovations

These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas and provide lessons others have learned. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.

Evidence-Based Examples

Project ECHO® – Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes
Updated/reviewed October 2022

• Need: Increase medical management knowledge for New Mexico primary care providers in order to provide care for the thousands of rural and underserved patients with hepatitis C, a chronic, complex condition that has high personal and public health costs when left untreated.
• Intervention: Project leveraging an audiovisual platform to accomplish "moving knowledge, not patients" that used a "knowledge network learning loop" of disease-specific consultants and rural healthcare teams learning from each other and learning by providing direct patient care.
• Results: In 18 months, the urban specialist appointment wait list decreased from 8 months to 2 weeks due to Hepatitis C patients receiving care from the project's participating primary care providers. Improved disease outcomes were demonstrated along with cost savings, including those associated with travel. The project model, now known as Project ECHO® – Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes — has evolved into a telementoring model used world-wide.

Effective Examples

Pharmacists for Patient Safety Network
Updated/reviewed September 2022

• Need: Pharmacists in rural Nebraska are often isolated and find it difficult to communicate with others about safety concerns.
• Intervention: The Pharmacists for Patient Safety Network was a communication network in which pharmacists identified safety concerns and shared solutions.
• Results: After one year of implementation, 30 of the 38 participating pharmacies reported that the network encouraged new safety practices and reinforced existing safety strategies.

Promising Examples

Patient Centered Medical Home Practicum in Primary Care
Updated/reviewed May 2019

• Need: Improvement in service quality and patient experience in primary care practices in North Carolina's Blue Ridge region and across the state.
• Intervention: A practicum for healthcare management students was developed to help rural practices achieve Patient Care Medical Home (PCMH) status, identify quality improvement needs, and develop strategies.
• Results: With the help of practicum students, rural primary practices have have tackled a number of important quality improvement projects, achieved PCMH status and Blue Quality Physician Program Recognition.

Other Project Examples

Facing Diabetes: Quality Improvement in Rural South Dakota Project
Updated/reviewed May 2022

• Need: To help adults and children in rural South Dakota prevent or manage their diabetes.
• Intervention: The Facing Diabetes Project offered medical visits for adults and provided prevention and education sessions for the local 4th and 5th graders.
• Results: Many adults and children in the region felt better equipped to choose healthy foods, exercise regularly, and manage their stress: all factors that can help prevent diabetes or decrease its effects.

Utah Rural Independent Hospital Network
Updated/reviewed April 2019

• Need: To help ensure the viability of and improve quality at 9 rural, independent hospitals serving 11 Utah counties.
• Intervention: A network organization was created to allow member hospitals to communicate, network, and undertake projects together.
• Results: Members take advantage of cost savings, education, and networking opportunities through group projects and programs.