Rural Healthcare Quality – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Healthcare Quality.
Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Measurement Recommendations Report
Provides an overview of two measurement frameworks, one for maternal morbidity and one for maternal mortality. Includes a list of short- and long-term recommendations for each measurement topic, which cover equitable treatment; timely access to treatment and services; follow-up and care coordination of care; protocols and guidelines; substance use disorders, mental health, and behavioral health; access to pain management and labor support; and patient- and family-reported outcomes and experiences of care. Discusses three potential, actionable measure concepts for maternal mortality.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Provides an overview of two measurement frameworks, one for maternal morbidity and one for maternal mortality. Includes a list of short- and long-term recommendations for each measurement topic, which cover equitable treatment; timely access to treatment and services; follow-up and care coordination of care; protocols and guidelines; substance use disorders, mental health, and behavioral health; access to pain management and labor support; and patient- and family-reported outcomes and experiences of care. Discusses three potential, actionable measure concepts for maternal mortality.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Place Matters: Closing the Gap on Rural Primary Care Quality Improvement Capacity - The Healthy Hearts Northwest Study
Compares the primary care practices in rural and urban settings in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Looks at quality improvement capacity, performance metrics, and workforce issues, among other measures.
Author(s): Lyle J. Fagnan, Katrina Ramsey, Caitlin Dickinson, et al.
Citation: The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 34 (4), 753-761
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Compares the primary care practices in rural and urban settings in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Looks at quality improvement capacity, performance metrics, and workforce issues, among other measures.
Author(s): Lyle J. Fagnan, Katrina Ramsey, Caitlin Dickinson, et al.
Citation: The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 34 (4), 753-761
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Leveraging Quality Measurement to Improve Rural Health, Telehealth, and Healthcare System Readiness: Final Environmental Scan Report
Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE - Using "Small Data" to Drive Big Improvements
Podcast episode exploring how two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) leaders utilize data for quality improvement. Discusses how different kinds of data have informed quality improvement initiatives and considerations for analyzing data in low-volume contexts.
Date: 06/2021
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Podcast episode exploring how two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) leaders utilize data for quality improvement. Discusses how different kinds of data have informed quality improvement initiatives and considerations for analyzing data in low-volume contexts.
Date: 06/2021
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating: Overview for Flex Programs and Rural Stakeholders
Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Star Ratings posted on the CMS Care Compare website. Describes the methodology for the Overall Hospital Star Ratings, including information on measure selection, measure grouping, measure group scores and hospital scoring, and peer grouping and star rating assignment. Discusses the implications these ratings have on Critical Access Hospitals and other small rural hospitals.
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Star Ratings posted on the CMS Care Compare website. Describes the methodology for the Overall Hospital Star Ratings, including information on measure selection, measure grouping, measure group scores and hospital scoring, and peer grouping and star rating assignment. Discusses the implications these ratings have on Critical Access Hospitals and other small rural hospitals.
Date: 05/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Interpreting MBQIP Hospital Data Reports for Quality Improvement
Designed to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) staff use Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) Hospital Data Reports to support quality improvement efforts and improve patient care in their facility. Includes examples of how to interpret MBQIP reports, links to additional resources, and a glossary of keywords.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Designed to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) staff use Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) Hospital Data Reports to support quality improvement efforts and improve patient care in their facility. Includes examples of how to interpret MBQIP reports, links to additional resources, and a glossary of keywords.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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MBQIP Fundamentals Guide for State Flex Programs
Provides information about the history and status of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). Developed for the benefit of Flex Program personnel and subcontractors and includes resources to support their work, including data report release timelines, MBQIP acronyms, and MBQIP measure change summaries.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Provides information about the history and status of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). Developed for the benefit of Flex Program personnel and subcontractors and includes resources to support their work, including data report release timelines, MBQIP acronyms, and MBQIP measure change summaries.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Serving High Need/High Cost Patients in the Emergency Department
Provides an overview of high-need/high-cost (HNHC) patient program design, implementation, operation, and assessment for rural hospitals to improve participant health, reduce emergency department (ED) visits, and decrease hospital charges. Includes links to additional resources and HNHC patient program case studies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Christopher Stamy
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Provides an overview of high-need/high-cost (HNHC) patient program design, implementation, operation, and assessment for rural hospitals to improve participant health, reduce emergency department (ED) visits, and decrease hospital charges. Includes links to additional resources and HNHC patient program case studies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Christopher Stamy
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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How to Design Value‐based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report
Summarizes a July 2020 virtual summit of rural participants in value‐based care (VBC) models and programs. Details six themes on VBC model design, implementation, and operation that can influence rural organization participation in VBC models. Provides recommendations for VBC model designers to improve rural healthcare provider participation and success in VBC models.
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Clint MacKinney, Jennifer Lundblad, Karla Weng
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes a July 2020 virtual summit of rural participants in value‐based care (VBC) models and programs. Details six themes on VBC model design, implementation, and operation that can influence rural organization participation in VBC models. Provides recommendations for VBC model designers to improve rural healthcare provider participation and success in VBC models.
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Clint MacKinney, Jennifer Lundblad, Karla Weng
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health
Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 2/16/2024