South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Current Projects
Analysis of State Dental Hygiene Practice Acts and Medicaid Policies for Children’s Dental Care: Services Covered and Practitioners Reimbursed
The purpose of this qualitative analysis will be to obtain a clear picture of the degree to which (1) state SCHIP and Medicaid programs are implementing waivers, or other programs, to improve access to dental care for vulnerable populations including children and pregnant women; and (2) dental hygienists impact the dental safety net for rural America.
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Dental health,
Health disparities,
Maternal and child health,
Medicaid and S-CHIP
Characteristics and Educational Needs of Rural Acute Care Hospital Boards of Directors
Rural hospital boards face challenges in an environment of increasing legal and financial complexity. This study will characterize rural hospital Board of Directors’ backgrounds, perceptions of board function, and perceived need of training and development.
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Hospitals and clinics
Chartbook: Oral Health and Unmet Needs for Dental Care Among Children
This study will characterize oral health status, dental care utilization, and unmet dental care needs among U.S. children by urban/rural residence. It will provide a descriptive analysis, using cross-sectional data from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health.
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Dental health,
Health disparities,
Rural statistics and demographics
Chartbook: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Health of Rural Populations
This study will provide a cross-sectional, descriptive study that uses large, nationally representative data sets to illustrate health and health care among rural populations. The data sets to be used include the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the 2005 National Health Interview Survey, and the Area Resource File.
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health disparities,
Minority health,
Rural statistics and demographics
Effect of Safety Net Providers on Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalization Rates in Rural Counties
This project will determine if the presence of a community health center or rural health clinic in a county reduces ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations for children, working age adults, and older adults.
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs),
Health services,
Poverty,
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
Transitions in Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes
Hospital readmission rates among persons with diabetes, as well as absolute admission rates, may be used to study health disparities among rural and minority populations. This project will use data from the Medicare Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse to explore residence- and race-based disparities in diabetes admission rates, effective transitions to outpatient care, and re-admission rates, to help guide rural policy-makers and health care providers.
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health disparities,
Medicare,
Minority health
