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72 projects matched your search.
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Access to Mental Health Services and Family Burden of Rural Children with Significant Mental Health Problems
The needs of rural children with SED and the burden these needs place on their families are intertwined and may place these rural children and their families at “double jeopardy” of having their mental health and other needs go unmet. Using the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) and information on community characteristics from the Area Resource File (ARF) we will examine the factors associated with whether children and their families have their needs meet across the rural continuum.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Mental health
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Acute and Post-Acute Care Bundled Payments and Care Coordination in Rural Environments
The purpose of this project is to: 1) Identify opportunities and potential unintended consequences for rural providers of current proposals for implementing bundled payments for acute and post-acute care episodes; 2) Describe modifications to current bundling proposals that will address rural-specific issues; and 3) Identify quality measures related to care coordination that are relevant for rural patients whose services are reimbursed by a bundled payment.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Quality
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Adolescent Alcohol Use in Rural Areas: What Are the Issues?
This study will use the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to examine the effect of developmental, individual, and environmental factors on adolescent alcohol use across the urban-rural continuum.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Substance abuse
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Aging of the Rural Generalist Physician Workforce: Will Some Locations Be More Affected than Others?
This study will identify rural locations with high proportions of generalist physicians nearing retirement age.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Physicians,
Workforce
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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.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Dental health,
Health disparities,
Maternal and child health,
Medicaid and S-CHIP
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Analysis Related to Health Care Reform Issues
The RUPRI Center is prepared to provide analysis of elements and/or effects of proposed or enacted health reform legislation and/or regulations to implement changes mandated by legislation.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health care financing,
Health policy,
Health services
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Assessing the Community Impact of the MMA
This project will measure the community-level impacts of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and will provide feedback to policymakers regarding the impact of the MMA on its policy targets (providers and beneficiaries), in the context of rural places.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health policy,
Legislation and regulation,
Medicare,
Medicare Part D
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Assessing the Rural Relevance of Hospital Outpatient Quality Measures
The purpose of this project is to: 1) determine the diagnoses that are most commonly treated and the procedures most commonly performed in rural hospital outpatient settings; and 2) to evaluate the rural relevance of the proposed new CMS outpatient quality measures and other potential outpatient quality measures.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Hospitals and clinics,
Quality
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Borderline Health: A Chartbook of U.S. Rural Health Indicators at the Mexico Border
This study will describe health issues, health behaviors, access to healthcare services and receipt of preventive services among Hispanic/Latino populations residing in the US part of the US-Mexico Border. Additionally, results will show rural-urban differences and comparisons with non-Hispanic/Latino populations in border states and in the rest of the US.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Border and international health,
Hispanics,
Minority health
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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.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Hospitals and clinics
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Community College’s Contributions to the Education of Allied Health Professionals in Rural Areas of the U.S.
This study will identify rural-serving community colleges across the U.S. and their 5-year graduation trends for specific allied health professions, examine the spectrum of how rural allied health professions education currently is being allocated and delivered, and explore how community economic status and estimated regional allied health workforce demand is associated with the availability of rural community college allied health education programs.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Allied health professionals,
Workforce
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Consequences of Rural Uninsurance
This study will assess whether uninsured rural residents have different levels of access to care than their urban counterparts, and the factors associated with any differences (including sub-analyses for individuals with identified chronic conditions). In doing so, it will provide policymakers with critical information for improving rural health systems.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Health insurance and the uninsured
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Critical Access Hospital Readiness for CMS Value-Based Purchasing
The purpose of this project will be to assess Critical Access Hospital readiness for participation in a Value-based Purchasing program similar to that proposed by CMS for Prospective Payment System hospitals.
Project status: In Progress
Research centers:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center,
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Hospital Flexibility Program,
Health care financing,
Quality
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Dental Sealant Utilization among Rural and Urban Children
Dental sealants can prevent or reduce dental caries among children, but only about a third of children currently have sealants. This project will explore the dissemination of sealants among rural children, identifying characteristics of children and communities with low sealant use.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Dental health
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Dentist Supply, Access to Dental Care, and Oral Health among Rural and Urban Residents: A National Study
This study will determine whether shortages of dentists in rural areas of the U.S. are associated with impaired access to dental care and a higher prevalence of dental disease.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Dental health,
Workforce
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Diet and Physical Activity as Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity: An Urban and Rural Comparison
Obesity is more prevalent among rural than urban children, despite higher reported physical activity levels. This project will explore diet among rural children to explore how diet and physical activity may differ for rural children, particularly minority children.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Obesity
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Do Communities Make a Difference in Access? A National Study
This project will examine the effect of community-level resources on an individual's access to health care, particularly whether urban and rural individuals' access to health care differs, given community differences.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Health services
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Do Rural Patients with Early Stage Prostate Cancer Gain Access to All Treatment Choices?
This research will use cancer registry data from 10 states to examine the degree to which rural residents diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer access the full range of surveillance, surgical, and radiation treatment options. Study findings will inform cancer centers, advocacy groups, rural program planners, and policymakers about services and programs needed to ensure that rural prostate cancer patients can choose from among all treatment options.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health services
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Effect of Travel Distances on Access to Obstetric Care and Birth Outcomes in Rural Communities
This study will assess whether the availability of obstetric providers in rural areas is sufficient to meet the need for obstetric care by measuring the distance patients must travel to obtain prenatal care and delivery and by examining health outcomes related to labor and delivery.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Maternal and child health,
Physicians,
Women
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Effect of Type and Timeliness of Post-Acute Care on Preventable Hospital Readmissions for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
The purpose of this project is to: 1) determine how location of hospitals used for initial admissions by rural patients affects readmission rates; 2) assess how the use of swing beds affects rural patients’ readmissions; and 3) examine the impact of the type and timeliness of post-acute care, including home health care, skilled nursing, and physician visits, on readmissions for rural patients.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Hospitals and clinics,
Medicare
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Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector
Environmental risks to rural populations are understudied relative to urban areas despite increasing recognition that rural populations are potentially exposed to these risks from agricultural, mining, industrial or other sources. This project analyzes the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Public health
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Examining Recent Trends and Variation in Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions-related Hospital Expenditures of Rural Americans with Different Health Insurance Coverage and Status
This study documents the national time-trend and regional variation of rural Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC)-related hospital expenditures by patient insurance coverage/status. The study will also compare the pattern of difference in the ACSC-related expenditures of rural patients with different insurance coverage/status by patient demographic and economic characteristics as well as hospital characteristics.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health care financing,
Health insurance and the uninsured,
Health services
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Examining the Applicability of the AHRQ's Inpatient Quality Indicators to Rural Hospitals and the Implications of the Relationship Between the Indicators and Financial Measures for Medicare Payment Policies
This study will investigate how the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's inpatient quality indicators can be applied to rural hospitals and will explore the application of those indicators in answering relevant policy questions.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health care financing,
Health policy,
Hospitals and clinics,
Quality
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Exploring the Black Box: Design and Implementation Issues of P4P for Rural Physicians
Information about how pay-for-performance (P4P) payment systems work in ambulatory care settings, and in particular, how rural physicians might be affected, is scarce. This study employs qualitative research methods to explore the design and implementation of P4P systems and to investigate effects of P4P on rural physicians in a variety of settings.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Emergency medical services (EMS),
Health care financing,
Physicians
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Factors Associated with Provision of Ambulance Services by Rural Hospitals
This two-part study will use existing national data to determine how many hospitals have regularly offered ambulance services as well as how many have recently acquired or discontinued such services. In-depth interviews with selected rural hospital administrators will explore the factors related to a hospital’s decision regarding these important health care services.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Emergency medical services (EMS)
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Factors Associated with Rural-Residing Registered Nurses’ Choices to Work in Urban Locations and Larger Rural Cities
While larger numbers of registered nurses (RNs) are living in rural areas, research from the WWAMI RHRC shows that since 1980, a growing percentage are commuting from rural residences to work within urban and larger rural cities. This study will explore factors that may be associated with RNs’ decisions to commute away from their rural areas of residence to work in less rural areas.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Mid-level practitioners,
Nurses,
Workforce
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Future of Family Medicine and Implications for Primary Care Physician Supply
This project describes recent trends in medical student interest and national match rates in primary care and family medicine, the effect of increasing proportions of female physicians on rural practice patterns, and implications of declining interest in primary care on health and the health workforce.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Physicians,
Workforce
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General and Specialist Surgeon Supply and Inpatient Procedural Content: A National Rural-Urban Study
This study will examine the degree to which access to inpatient surgical care in rural areas is affected by the diminishing workforce of general surgeons. Using inpatient surgical procedure data, we will examine the availability and content of general surgical procedures in rural and urban hospitals nationally as a function of surgeon supply.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Workforce
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Health Information Technology and Quality in Rural Hospitals
The purpose of this project is to: 1) examine the adoption of health information technology (HIT) among rural hospitals and identify hospital and market characteristics that facilitate or impede HIT diffusion; 2) measure the effect of HIT on clinical quality in rural hospitals; and 3) identify technologies that may be promoted to improve quality of care in rural areas.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health information technology,
Hospitals and clinics,
Quality
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Health Insurance Stability among Rural Children Following Public Coverage Expansions
While estimates indicate that the uninsured rate among rural children has dramatically decreased since the 1997 passage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), it is not clear whether or not coverage has become more stable and uninsured spells shorter. The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in insurance stability among rural and urban children following CHIP, and whether this is affected by specific state eligibility and enrollment policies or clusters of policies. Using the 1996, 2001, and 2004 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), we will measure rural-urban differences in uninsured spell length and frequency, sources of coverage before and after uninsured spells, movement between sources of coverage, how these measures of stability have changed over time, and the factors that relate to greater continuity of coverage among rural children.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Health insurance and the uninsured,
Medicaid and S-CHIP
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Health Panel Project: Providing an Objective Assessment of the Implications of Health Reform for Rural People, Places and Health Care Providers
The Panel is tracking legislative developments and providing brief assessments about impact on specific rural populations and providers.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Analysis and Applications
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health care financing,
Health policy
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Health Reform—Rapid Response
This project will include several projects as requested by ORHP and DHHS as those agencies prepare for national health reform. Responses are primarily in the areas of health insurance and behavioral health.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health care financing,
Health policy,
Health services,
Mental health
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Human Services Project: Health & Human Services Integration: Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Service Providers and Communities
The Panel is undertaking a project to understand effective efforts to integrate health and human services through federal grant programs.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Analysis and Applications
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health policy,
Health services
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Impact of Employment Transitions on Health Insurance Coverage of Rural Residents
This project aims to examine rural-urban differences in the proportion of employed adults with private health insurance who experience an employment transition (defined as a change in jobs or hours worked, or no job) and the impact of that change on health insurance status.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Health insurance and the uninsured
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Importance of Surgery to Rural Hospital Financial Condition and Market Share
This study explores the provision of surgical services in rural hospitals and its relationship to financial performance. The percentage of rural hospitals that offer surgical services and the number that have discontinued surgical services over the last decade will be described, and, for those that have discontinued services, the impact on financial condition will be explored.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Hospitals and clinics
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International Medical Graduates on J-1 and H-1B Visas: Understanding Trends in their Contributions to Health Care Delivery for Rural Underserved Populations
This study will identify trends and data needs regarding the contributions of international medical graduates’ on J-1 and H-1B visas (IMGs) to rural health care delivery. A workgroup of IMG research and policy stakeholders will be established to help identify IMG supply data trends, needs, and pressing policy issues, lay the groundwork for potential areas of study, data integration and data collection, as well as strengthen the policy-relevance of our work.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
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Measuring the Community Benefits and Impact of Critical Access Hospitals
This project will develop, test, and implement a set of community benefits and impact indicators for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). These indicators will assist CAHs, policymakers, and rural stakeholders to understand the impact of CAHs on their communities and local health care delivery systems.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
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Medicaid and SCHIP Participation in Rural and Urban Areas
This project examines state-level Medicaid and SCHIP participation rates for children in rural and urban areas. It also updates the State Profiles of Medicaid and SCHIP in Rural and Urban Areas web site and documents changes in program characteristics relevant to rural areas over the past few years.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Medicaid and S-CHIP
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Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in Rural Areas
The rapid growth in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, as well as evidence that MA plans are being paid significantly more than traditional fee-for-service Medicare, has created the impetus for reform of the MA program, especially reductions in payment to MA plans. This project will continue the RUPRI Center’s work in tracking and analyzing the trends in MA plan enrollment in rural areas, including changes in types of plans.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Medicare,
Medicare Advantage (MA)
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Mini-studies to Inform Health Reform Efforts
Rural health care systems are far more vulnerable to changes in federal health care policy than are those in urban areas. The purpose of this project is to conduct rapid turnaround mini-studies that will be essential to maintain an effective rural voice in both the ongoing adjustments to current policies and the development of new policies.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health policy,
Health services
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Monitoring Medicare Hospital Outpatient Payments: Trends and Evidence of Impacts of Payment Policy
This project documents trends in the provision of Medicare hospital outpatient services under both the new outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and cost-based mechanism used for critical access hospitals, and assesses evidence on the impacts of Medicare OPPS on Medicare and total outpatient revenue.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health policy,
Hospitals and clinics,
Medicare,
Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS)
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Multidisciplinary Environmental Health Provider Competencies Expected Completion
This study will develop, from existing single discipline standards, a competency guide that will address competencies that are essential for providing environmentally conscious care. The study will then systematically evaluate content validity, completeness and clarity of the competencies.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Public health
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National Study of Rural-Urban Differences in Use of Home Oxygen for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: Are Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Disadvantaged?
To understand disparities in care among rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries, data from Medicare's Durable Medical Equipment (DME) files were used to assess rural/urban variation in the home use of supplemental oxygen.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Medicare
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Nursing Workforce Impact on Rural Hospital Performance Improvement in the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project
The purpose of this project is to examine the impact of nurse staffing on hospital performance improvement in the CMS/premier Inc. Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration project with specific interest in whether and how this relationship differs in rural hospitals as compared to urban hospitals.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Hospitals and clinics,
Quality,
Workforce
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Organizational Impact of the Deployment of Ambulance Quality Feedback Systems (QFS) on Rural Volunteer EMS Agencies
Project status: In Progress
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Emergency medical services (EMS)
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Outpatient Payment Policy Under Medicare: Recent Policy Developments from the Rural Perspective
This study was designed to examine outpatient payment options for rural hospitals, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and their potential impact on hospital revenue and rural access to health services.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health care financing,
Hospitals and clinics
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Patient Assessments and Quality of Care in Rural Hospitals
This study will 1)analyze the relationships between rural patients’ perspectives of hospital quality of care and key hospital characteristics that may influence patients’ experiences of hospital care; and 2) assess whether rural patients’ perspectives of hospital quality of care are related to quality measures focused on the provision of recommended care for medical conditions.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Quality
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Patient-Centered Medical Home: A Model for Rural Physician Practices and Communities?
Rural practices will need to meet the expectations inherent in the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model or lose any payment advantage that comes with participating as a PCMH. The goal of this project is to assess rural readiness to adopt services seen as part of a PCMH.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Physicians
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Policy Analyses of Rural Issues Related to Health Care Reform
Health care reform provides an array of opportunities to improve health care access and quality for rural Americans. The WWAMI RHRC will support HRSA’s efforts to inform this process by summarizing existing evidence characterizing the rural health care workforce and rural health care delivery and will conduct analyses exploring the potential impact on rural populations of proposed and newly- enacted health care reform legislation.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health policy,
Health services
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Potentially Preventable Rural Hospital Readmissions
This project focuses on the analysis of potentially preventable rural hospital readmissions, a potential quality indicator receiving considerable attention from policymakers and payers. Using 3-M algorithm software and MedPAR inpatient claims data from 9 geographically representative states, this study will explore the relationship between readmission rates and geographic regions, categories of rural hospitals, discharge destination, clinical diagnoses and patient attributes.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Hospitals and clinics,
Quality
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Premature Mortality: Potential Role of Health Insurance in Moderating Race/Ethnicity and Rural/Urban Disparities
This project will explore the degree to which lack of health insurance may contribute to high mortality rates among rural minority men and women aged 45-64.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health insurance and the uninsured,
Minority health
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Provision of Specialty Mental Health Services by Rural Health Clinics
This project will document the extent to which Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are employing mental health staff nationally, understand why more RHCs are not employing specialty mental health staff, and analyze the barriers to and opportunities for the delivery of mental health services by RHCs. The results will identify opportunities and interventions to encourage RHCs to offer this important service.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Mental health,
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs),
Substance abuse
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Racial and Rural Differences in Cervical Cancer Screening Practices
The purpose of this study is to describe and compare racial and rural differences in cervical cancer screening practices using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. The findings will inform policies to increase appropriate access to quality cancer-preventive services.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health promotion and disease prevention,
Minority health,
Women
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Rapid Research Response on Health Care Reform Issues: The Dual Disadvantages of Race and Rurality
The focus of the SC Rural Health Research Center is on investigating persistent inequities in health status within the population of the rural US, with an emphasis on inequities stemming from socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, and access to healthcare services. Building on existing expertise, the SC Rural Health Research Center will create an internal process that allows for rapid turnaround of analysis on race/ethnicity and rural-based health disparity inquiries from policymakers.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health care financing,
Health policy
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Role of Rural Health Clinics in a Changing Rural Primary Care Landscape
This project builds upon our past work with Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to examine the challenges faced by RHCs in serving as part of the rural health care safety net; expanding service capacity to include mental health, dental, and obstetrical care; coping with primary care and other workforce shortages; implementing health information technology; and preparing for proposed changes in conditions of participation requirements and payment provisions. This study will use data collected from a national telephone survey of RHCs, data from past surveys of RHCs; and Medicare cost reports.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
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Rural Emergency Department Preparedness for Pediatric Care
While many large cities have dedicated children’s hospitals or facilities with pediatric emergency departments, many general hospitals do not have either the equipment necessary to provide optimal pediatric emergency care nor staff that is specifically trained in the care of pediatric emergencies. This project will use secondary data analysis and semi-structured interviews with emergency room directors in order to address how the availability of pediatric services, expertise and supplies in U.S. emergency departments differs between urban and rural facilities, and to determine which factors impede the availability of pediatric services, expertise, and supplies in rural emergency departments.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Health services,
Hospitals and clinics
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Rural Environmental Hazards Inventory and Associated Health Outcomes
This study will create a national inventory of potential environmental hazards for rural populations. Population health outcomes such as CDC mortality statistics will be examined to determine if poor health outcomes are related to greater exposures to potential hazards.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health promotion and disease prevention,
Public health
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Rural Family Medicine Residency Training Survey: Follow-up to 2000 Survey
National survey of family medicine residency training programs to quantify the amount and location of rural training. The survey will also identify training that occurs in federally-qualified health centers.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Physicians,
Workforce
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Rural Food Security, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes
This project will examine the characteristics of food security and food availability across the rural-urban continuum. The study will test the hypotheses that food insecurity will differ significantly between rural and urban counties in the US with rural areas experiencing more adverse conditions; and that there will be a significant relationship between food insecurity, food availability and selected adverse health outcomes in non-metropolitan counties in the US.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Obesity
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Rural Health Clinics: Measuring Efficiency & Effectiveness
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
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Rural Implications of Health Care Reform: Issues Related to Quality of Care, Health Information Technology and Care Coordination
The purpose of this project is to provide support to the Office of Rural Health Policy on rural health care reform issues.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health policy,
Health services
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Rural Medicaid and CHIP Mini-Studies
Medicaid and the Children?s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are important sources of health insurance coverage in rural communities and it is likely that the importance of Medicaid/CHIP will grow as job-based health insurance coverage continues to erode and policymakers pursue the goal of expanding coverage. This project is composed of three mini-studies that: 1) Update our State Profiles of Medicaid and CHIP in Rural and Urban Areas website, adding information on Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to rural hospitals; 2) Analyze trends in Medicaid/CHIP enrollment in rural and urban areas over the past two to three years; and 3) Explore the future role of CHIP given increasing levels of childhood poverty.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Medicaid and S-CHIP
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Rural Socioeconomic Risk and Resiliency Inventory and Associated Health Outcomes
This study will create a national inventory of social and economic risks and resiliencies for every county in the nation, and relate those risks to health outcome data. The study will test whether rural areas with fewer risks and greater resiliencies are related to better health outcomes.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Poverty
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Rural-urban Comparison of Hospital Financial Performance by Medicare Payment Classification
This project will compare the financial performance of rural and urban short term general hospitals by Medicare payment classifications (PPS only, Medicare dependent hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural referral centers, and critical access hospitals).
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Hospitals and clinics,
Medicare
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Safety Net Activities of Independent Rural Health Clinics
This national study will investigate and describe the safety net role of independent Rural Health Clinics (RHC). It will further examine the market effect of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) on the safety net role of independent RHCs at the county level.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs),
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
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Toxics Release Inventory Sites and Population Health across Rural and Urban Areas
Previous research has identified higher mortality rates in rural areas in association with exposure to pollution sources. This study conducts mortality outcome analyses specific to discharges from Toxics Release Inventory sites across the spectrum of rural to urban settings.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Public health
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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.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health disparities,
Medicare,
Minority health
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Trends in Access to Health Care among Rural Residents: A National Study
This study used national data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to ascertain the extent to which individual rural residents lack access to health care providers.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health disparities,
Health services,
Rural statistics and demographics
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Use of Emergency Departments and Inpatient Care for Conditions Related to Poor Oral Health Care
This study combines patient-level data from emergency departments and inpatient hospitals from selected states with data on dental HPSA designation, Medicaid dental coverage, and area population characteristics to document the extent to which ED and inpatient settings are used to treat problems related to poor oral health care, the charges for such care, and variations in the use of such services by characteristics of the patient and the area.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Dental health,
Health services
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Use of Recommended Radiation Therapy in the Rural U.S.
This study will use cancer registry data from 10 U.S. states to examine which rural cancer patients are receiving recommended radiation therapy, and what factors influence receipt of recommended treatment. Identifying gaps in radiation therapy will inform cancer centers, rural program planners, and policy makers in rural cancer service locations and cancer support program development.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health services
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Volunteerism in Rural EMS
Semi-structured telephone interviews will be used to examine issues facing rural EMS services that have converted or are considering converting from volunteer services to paid services. Respondents will be queried regarding their conversion or consideration of conversion and the effect on their ability to recruit and retain personnel, their relationship with other agencies such as fire departments and hospitals, and the overall availability of EMS services.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Emergency medical services (EMS),
Health care financing,
Workforce
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WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) Rural Health Workforce Monograph: Guide for State Legislators Regarding Rural Workforce Information and Issues
This project will compile and present state-level information about the rural health workforce in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) region, including data on various health care disciplines. The resulting monograph will illustrate issues such as the shortage of different types of health care providers in various kinds of rural locations.
Project status: In Progress
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Dental health,
Nurses,
Physicians,
Workforce
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