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Rural Issues Related to Comparative Effectiveness Research and Dissemination
Comparative effectiveness research, which compares the costs and benefits of different treatments for specific diseases or conditions, has the potential to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care. This brief describes strategies for expanding clinical research in rural environments; implementing practice guidelines in rural settings; and improving access to current evidence-based information for rural health professionals and patients.
Contact information:
Ira Moscovice, PhD
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612-624-8618
mosco001@umn.edu
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Health Information Technology Policy and Rural Hospitals
Health information technology (HIT) is a key component of plans to reform the health care system. HIT adoption among smaller rural providers has lagged behind larger urban providers, and the vast majority of research on HIT has focused on its adoption and impact in urban institutions. This brief summarizes the implementation status of key HIT applications in Critical Access Hospitals and other rural hospitals, and discusses policies for encouraging HIT adoption in rural hospitals.
Contact information:
Jeffrey McCullough, PhD
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612-625-9328
mccu0056@umn.edu
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Rural Issues Related to Bundled Payments for Acute Care Episodes
Bundling Medicare payments, i.e., providing a fixed payment for a set of acute and post-acute services, has been proposed as a way of encouraging providers to find innovative, cost reducing strategies to provide better coordinated care. This brief describes challenges to implementing bundled payments in rural settings and discusses potential contracting and reimbursement strategies to address these challenges.
Contact information:
Robert Town, PhD
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612-626-4683
rjtown@umn.edu
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