Kyle Muus, PhD

Phone: 701.777.3848
E-mail: klmuus@medicine.nodak.edu

Center for Rural Health
University of North Dakota
School of Medicine & Health Sciences Room
501 North Columbia Road Stop 9037
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037

Completed Projects (1)

U.S. Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: A Rural/Urban Comparison, Lead researcher
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Rural statistics and demographics
This project will assess trends, patterns, and predictors of hospitalizations for three ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, bacterial pneumonia, and pediatric asthma) among rural and urban residents in the United States. The study will involve the examination of 2003 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample data.

Publications (8)

Chronic Disease and Functional Limitation Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
Author(s): Leander McDonald, Richard Ludtke, Kyle Muus
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health
Citation: Journal of Native Aging and Health, November-December 2005
Date: 2005
Reports the results of an analysis of chronic disease's effect on functional limitation from a survey of 7,107 Native elders representing 143 tribes from 77 sites.
Chronic Disease in American Indian/Alaska Native Elders
Author(s): Patricia L. Moulton, Leander R. McDonald, Kyle J. Muus, Alana D. Knudson, Richard L. Ludtke
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health
Citation: The IHS Primary Care Provider, 30(5), 53-54
Date: 2005
Describes the prevalence of chronic diseases among Native American elders.
Factors Associated With Incidence of Inappropriate Ambulance Transport in Rural Areas in Cases of Moderate to Severe Head Injury in Children
Author(s): Dmitri Poltavski, Kyle Muus
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Children, Emergency medical services (EMS)
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 21(3), 272-277
Date: 2005
An analysis was conducted to identify a set of significant predictors of cases of inappropriate deliveries to acute care facilities with no trauma-center designation of any level. Greater distance (mean = 19.96 miles) to the nearest trauma center and shorter distance traveled by the ambulance squad to the receiving facility (mean = 19.07 miles) corresponded to higher probabilities of mistriage, especially when a child was Native American (16 times more likely) and the transportation was conducted in the winter (9 times more likely).
Geographic Differences in Potentially Preventable Readmission Rates in Rural and Urban Hospitals (Final Report)
Author(s): Marilyn G. Klug, Alana Knudson, Kyle Muus
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topic: Hospitals and clinics
Date: 11 / 2010
Potentially preventable hospital readmissions (PPRs) among Medicare patients are examples of inefficiencies in the health care system. Policymakers are considering efforts to measure and publicly report preventable readmission rates and target hospitals with high rates for improvement by means of payment policy and technical assistance. To help inform the policy debate about readmissions of rural patients, this study estimated PPRs in three types of acute care hospitals: urban prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals, rural PPS hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Health Risks Factors Among American Indians and Alaska Native Elders
Author(s): Leander McDonald, Richard Ludtke, Kyle Muus
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Minority health
Citation: Journal of Native Aging and Health, July-August 2006, 1(2), 17-24
Date: 2006
Chronic disease rates are higher among American Indian and Alaska Native elders although they exercise more and have higher rates of participation in multiple exercise activities. Research concerning the relationship between chronic disease and health risk factors is limited for American Indian and Alaska Native elder populations. This paper indicated results of an analysis of the effect of risk factors on chronic disease from a survey of 9,296 Native elders, representing 171 tribes from 88 sites. The sampling design employed systematic random sampling for larger tribes, with smaller tribes (fewer than 200) interviewing all or the majority of their elders. The data suggest that smokers, drinkers, and non-exercisers are at increase risk for chronic disease.
Impact of Health Insurance Coverage on Native Elder Health: Implications for Addressing the Health Care Needs of Rural Native American Elders
Author(s): Alana Knudson, Mary Wakefield, Kyle Muus, Jacque Gray, Leander McDonald, Richard Ludtke, Gestur Davidson
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Health insurance and the uninsured, Minority health
Report Number: Final Report No. 6
Date: 10 / 2007
Examines health insurance coverage and access to health care among American Indian and Alaska Native elders (Native elders) -- defined as 55 years or older. Young elders, 55 to 64 years of age, are most likely to be uninsured with one-third reporting having no insurance, while 15% of older elders, 65 years of age and over, report they are uninsured. Uninsured Native elders are about twice as likely as insured Native elders to indicate they have no regular provider. In addition, one out of 10 Native elders report they were not able to get care when they needed it during the preceding 12 months. Reasons cited for not getting health care when it was needed included long waiting times, transportation problems, and cost. The authors conclude it is essential to develop policies that address the financial, geographical, and cultural aspects that negatively impact access to culturally appropriate healthcare. Full report available on request by contacting wopsahl@medicine.nodak.edu.
Potentially Preventable Readmissions in Rural Hospitals (Policy Brief)
Author(s): Marilyn G. Klug, Kyle Muus, Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topic: Hospitals and clinics
Date: 08 / 2009
A hospital's potentially preventable readmission rate is a quality indicator receiving considerable attention from policymakers and payers. Using 3-M algorithm software and Medicare inpatient claims data from five states, this brief examines potentially preventable readmission rates for rural and urban hospitals, and discusses the rural implications of policy initiatives to reduce readmission rates.
Prevalence of Chronic Disease Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders
Author(s): Patricia Moulton, Leander McDonald, Kyle Muus, Alana Knudson, Mary Wakefield, Richard Ludtke
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health
Date: 10 / 2005
Examines chronic disease prevalence and functional limitations among American Indian/Alaska Natives by rurality, gender, age, health care access, and health behaviors. Includes policy recommendations.

Topics Centers Researchers Other Resources Search		Kyle Muus, PhD Phone: 701.777.3848 E-mail: klmuus@medicine.nodak.edu Center for Rural Health University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences Room 501 North Columbia Road Stop 9037 Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037 Completed Projects (1) U.S. Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: A Rural/Urban Comparison, Lead researcher Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Rural statistics and demographics This project will assess trends, patterns, and predictors of hospitalizations for three ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, bacterial pneumonia, and pediatric asthma) among rural and urban residents in the United States. The study will involve the examination of 2003 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample data. Publications (8) Chronic Disease and Functional Limitation Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders Author(s): Leander McDonald, Richard Ludtke, Kyle Muus Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health Citation: Journal of Native Aging and Health, November-December 2005 Date: 2005 Reports the results of an analysis of chronic disease's effect on functional limitation from a survey of 7,107 Native elders representing 143 tribes from 77 sites. Chronic Disease in American Indian/Alaska Native Elders Author(s): Patricia L. Moulton, Leander R. McDonald, Kyle J. Muus, Alana D. Knudson, Richard L. Ludtke Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health Citation: The IHS Primary Care Provider, 30(5), 53-54 Date: 2005 Describes the prevalence of chronic diseases among Native American elders. Factors Associated With Incidence of Inappropriate Ambulance Transport in Rural Areas in Cases of Moderate to Severe Head Injury in Children Author(s): Dmitri Poltavski, Kyle Muus Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topics: Children, Emergency medical services (EMS) Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 21(3), 272-277 Date: 2005 An analysis was conducted to identify a set of significant predictors of cases of inappropriate deliveries to acute care facilities with no trauma-center designation of any level. Greater distance (mean = 19.96 miles) to the nearest trauma center and shorter distance traveled by the ambulance squad to the receiving facility (mean = 19.07 miles) corresponded to higher probabilities of mistriage, especially when a child was Native American (16 times more likely) and the transportation was conducted in the winter (9 times more likely). Geographic Differences in Potentially Preventable Readmission Rates in Rural and Urban Hospitals (Final Report) Author(s): Marilyn G. Klug, Alana Knudson, Kyle Muus Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topic: Hospitals and clinics Date: 11 / 2010 Potentially preventable hospital readmissions (PPRs) among Medicare patients are examples of inefficiencies in the health care system. Policymakers are considering efforts to measure and publicly report preventable readmission rates and target hospitals with high rates for improvement by means of payment policy and technical assistance. To help inform the policy debate about readmissions of rural patients, this study estimated PPRs in three types of acute care hospitals: urban prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals, rural PPS hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Health Risks Factors Among American Indians and Alaska Native Elders Author(s): Leander McDonald, Richard Ludtke, Kyle Muus Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topics: Aging, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Minority health Citation: Journal of Native Aging and Health, July-August 2006, 1(2), 17-24 Date: 2006 Chronic disease rates are higher among American Indian and Alaska Native elders although they exercise more and have higher rates of participation in multiple exercise activities. Research concerning the relationship between chronic disease and health risk factors is limited for American Indian and Alaska Native elder populations. This paper indicated results of an analysis of the effect of risk factors on chronic disease from a survey of 9,296 Native elders, representing 171 tribes from 88 sites. The sampling design employed systematic random sampling for larger tribes, with smaller tribes (fewer than 200) interviewing all or the majority of their elders. The data suggest that smokers, drinkers, and non-exercisers are at increase risk for chronic disease. Impact of Health Insurance Coverage on Native Elder Health: Implications for Addressing the Health Care Needs of Rural Native American Elders Author(s): Alana Knudson, Mary Wakefield, Kyle Muus, Jacque Gray, Leander McDonald, Richard Ludtke, Gestur Davidson Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Health insurance and the uninsured, Minority health Report Number: Final Report No. 6 Date: 10 / 2007 Examines health insurance coverage and access to health care among American Indian and Alaska Native elders (Native elders) -- defined as 55 years or older. Young elders, 55 to 64 years of age, are most likely to be uninsured with one-third reporting having no insurance, while 15% of older elders, 65 years of age and over, report they are uninsured. Uninsured Native elders are about twice as likely as insured Native elders to indicate they have no regular provider. In addition, one out of 10 Native elders report they were not able to get care when they needed it during the preceding 12 months. Reasons cited for not getting health care when it was needed included long waiting times, transportation problems, and cost. The authors conclude it is essential to develop policies that address the financial, geographical, and cultural aspects that negatively impact access to culturally appropriate healthcare. Full report available on request by contacting wopsahl@medicine.nodak.edu. Potentially Preventable Readmissions in Rural Hospitals (Policy Brief) Author(s): Marilyn G. Klug, Kyle Muus, Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topic: Hospitals and clinics Date: 08 / 2009 A hospital's potentially preventable readmission rate is a quality indicator receiving considerable attention from policymakers and payers. Using 3-M algorithm software and Medicare inpatient claims data from five states, this brief examines potentially preventable readmission rates for rural and urban hospitals, and discusses the rural implications of policy initiatives to reduce readmission rates. Prevalence of Chronic Disease Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders Author(s): Patricia Moulton, Leander McDonald, Kyle Muus, Alana Knudson, Mary Wakefield, Richard Ludtke Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Topics: Aging, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health Date: 10 / 2005 Examines chronic disease prevalence and functional limitations among American Indian/Alaska Natives by rurality, gender, age, health care access, and health behaviors. Includes policy recommendations.