Health services
Completed Projects
Access to Cancer Services for Rural Colorectal Cancer Medicare Patients: A Multi-State Study
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Aging,
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health services,
Medicare,
Minority health
This study examined a comprehensive database to quantify the distance and access to four types of cancer services in a sample of rural, Medicare-insured, CRC patients of different racial and ethnic groups, and will inform future work designed to understand discrepancies in cancer service use by the rural elderly in different racial and ethnic groups.
Access to Emergency Medical Services in Rural Areas
Research center:
Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Emergency medical services (EMS),
Health services
Access to Health Care for Young Rural Medicaid Beneficiaries
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Dental health,
Health services,
Medicaid and S-CHIP
This study examined access to health care among rural children ages 0-17 who are enrolled in some type of Medicaid managed care program, and will compare this access across types of programs and, within program type, to that of urban beneficiaries.
Access to Physician Care for the Rural Medicare Elderly
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Aging,
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health services,
Medicare,
Physicians,
Poverty
This study described where Medicare beneficiaries in five states obtain their health care, how far they travel for that care, and the mix of physician specialties from which they obtain ambulatory care. Special attention was paid to beneficiaries who have dual Medicare-Medicaid status, who reside in poorer income areas, and who live in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Access to Services Across a Continuum of Care for Rural Beneficiaries
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Health services
Ambulatory Care and the Rural Elderly
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Aging,
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health services
Analyzing the Relationship Among Critical Access Hospital Financial Status, Organizational Linkages, and Scope of Services
Research center:
Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Hospital Flexibility Program,
Health care financing,
Health services,
Networking and collaboration
This project will systematically analyze the relationships among pre- and post-conversion Critical Access Hospital (CAH) financial performance, the organizational linkages in which the hospital participates (e.g., health care systems and/or networks), and the scope of services (i.e., the number and type of services) provided.
Are Rural Perinatal Care Systems Deregionalizing?
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Health services,
Maternal and child health
Assessing Demand and Capacity for Behavioral Health Services in Northern Minnesota
Research center:
Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Generations Health Care Initiatives
Topics:
Health services,
Mental health
This project will assess the demand and capacity and develop policy recommendations for improving the organization of behavioral health services to meet regional needs.
Availability of Specialty Health Care for Rural American Indians and Alaska Natives
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
American Indians and Alaska Natives,
Health services,
Minority health
Changing Role of the Rural Hospital
Research center:
Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
Topics:
Health services,
Hospitals and clinics
Delivery of Health Care to People with Multiple Sclerosis Living in Rural Areas
Research center:
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Topics:
Health services,
Rural statistics and demographics
Describing Geographic Access to Physicians in Rural America Using Statistical Applications in GIS
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Physicians
This study will use a geographically weighted regression to assess the influence of distance and travel time on the distribution of physicians in rural America. The ultimate goal of the study will be to improve our measures of access by identifying the extent to which border resources can be considered in indices of access.
Determinants of Quality of Care in Rural Communities: How Does The Health Care Infrastructure Affect Quality of Care in Rural America?
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Quality,
Workforce
Distribution and Retention of General Surgeons in Rural Areas of the U.S.
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Physicians,
Workforce
Effects of Scope of Service and Reimbursement on Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Areas
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Health services,
Mental health
Effects of Scope of Service and Reimbursement on Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Areas
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Health services,
Mental health
Federal Rural Health Outreach Grant Program: The Impact and Sustainability of Grantees
Research center:
Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Networking and collaboration
Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Health Services for the Rural Near Elderly
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Aging,
Health insurance and the uninsured,
Health services
Impact of CAH Conversion on Hospital Costs and Mix of Services
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Hospital Flexibility Program,
Health care financing,
Health services
This study examined Medicare Cost Report and claims data for hospitals before and after CAH conversion in order to better understand changes in hospital costs associated with CAH conversion, factors associated with any cost growth, and changes in the mix of services provided by the facility.
Implementing Clinical Preventive Services Recommendations
in Rural Settings
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Topics:
Health promotion and disease prevention,
Health services,
Physicians
As part of a larger effort to evaluate the integration and delivery of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations in different types of health plans through site visits and key informant interviews, Walsh Center staff conducted one site visit with a rural health plan to identify specific barriers and opportunities inherent to providing clinical preventive services to rural residents in rural settings.
Influence of Physician Competition on Health Care Utilization
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
Topics:
Health services,
Physicians
Locating Community Pharmacies (Independent and Chain) in Rural America
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Pharmacy and prescription drugs
A comprehensive database of all rural U.S. pharmacies including pharmacy name, pharmacy type (chain or independent), town, ZIP code, county, state, RUCA code, and Federal Information Processing Standards will be developed. The databases will be usable in most widely used statistics and geographic information systems software packages.
Mental Health Risk Factors, Unmet Needs and Provider Availability for Rural Children
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Health services,
Mental health
The study will examine the prevalence of subclinical problems in rural children, assess risk factors associated with problems in children, and assess the influence of local provider availability on healthcare provider contact.
Mental Health Services: The Effect of Variations in State Policies
Research center:
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health policy,
Health services,
Mental health
This study will identify variations in state licensure and payment or coverage polices and examine the effect of these variations on the availability of mental health services in rural areas.
Mode of Travel and Actual Distance Traveled for Medical or Dental Care by Rural Residents
Research center:
South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Dental health,
Health disparities,
Health services,
Minority health
This project examined the influence of race and rural isolation on distance traveled to receive medical or dental care, and how the potential interaction of these factors might exacerbate disparities in access to care.
National Rural General Surgeon Project
Research center:
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Physicians,
Workforce
National Study of Home Health Access in Rural America
Research center:
ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Home health,
Hospice and palliative care,
Medicare
This project will develop home health care service areas that will allow for the measurement of access to home health care for rural Medicare beneficiaries who die of cancer, and recommend options for increasing access to home health care in underserved rural areas.
National Study of Rural Health Clinics
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
National Study of Substance Abuse Prevalence and Treatment Services in Rural Areas
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health disparities,
Health services,
Rural statistics and demographics,
Substance abuse
This project will research the prevalence of the abuse of legal and illegal substances across rural populations and geographic areas, including the extent to which rural individuals are receiving treatment for their substance abuse and barriers to the receipt of treatment.
Patient Bypass Behavior and Critical Access Hospitals: Implications for Patient Retention
Research center:
ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Hospital Flexibility Program,
Health services
This project drew on a survey of patients sampled from the service areas of 25 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) from different regions of the country. The purpose of this project is to identify policy and programmatic issues related to bypass, specifically targeting CAHs in order to offer evidence and guidance to policymakers, CAH administrators, and planners on the location of healthcare resources, factors that affect patient actions for planning programs, and the adjustment of policies in order to retain patients locally.
Recent History of Federal Funding for EMS in the United States
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Emergency medical services (EMS),
Health care financing,
Health services
Roadmap for the Adoption of Health Information Technology in Rural Communities
Research center:
Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health information technology,
Health services
This project developed a resource document intended to help rural health care providers of all types as they think about whether an investment in health information technology makes sense for them and work through various implementation issues. The document was distributed at the September 2006 conference entitled "Health Information Technology: A Rural Provider’s Roadmap to Quality," sponsored by ORHP.
Role of Inpatient Psychiatric Units in Small Rural Hospitals and Rural Mental Health Systems
Research center:
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Hospitals and clinics,
Mental health
This is a descriptive, exploratory study which will investigate the role of the small rural hospital IPU from the perspectives of both the rural hospital, in terms of scope of services and revenue enhancement, and the regional mental health system, meeting the needs of outpatient mental health and primary care providers, law enforcement, and human services.
Role of Intensive Care Units in Critical Access Hospitals
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Hospital Flexibility Program,
Health services
This project will examine the role that intensive care units (ICUs) play in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). The number and geographic distribution of CAH with ICUs will be described, and types of services provided in these units discussed.
Role of Rural Hospitals in Community-Centered Systems of Care: Supporting Population Health Improvement for Rural Communities
Research center:
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Hospitals and clinics
This project will assess the degree to which rural hospitals engage in activities that facilitate community responsiveness and the provision of community-oriented services, using 1996 to 2004 data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey and the Area Resource File.
Rural Healthy People 2010 Expansion: Access to Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Services, Educational and Community-Based Programs, and Public Health Infrastructure
Research center:
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Healthy People 2010 (Rural),
Long term care,
Public health
This project expanded the work of Healthy People 2010 by adding three additional chapters and associated models for practice: Access to Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Services, Educational and Community-Based Programs, and Public Health Infrastructure.
View the models for practice and literature reviews on the Rural Health People 2010 website at http://srph.tamhsc.edu/centers/rhp2010/.
Rural Hospitals' Strategic Response to PPS for Outpatient, SNF, and HH Services
Research center:
Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health services,
Home health,
Hospitals and clinics,
Long term care,
Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS)
Rural Informal Safety Net: The Development of a Research and Evaluation Design and a Preliminary Assessment
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Health insurance and the uninsured,
Health services
Rural Safety Net Provision and Hospital Care in 11 States
Research center:
ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health services,
Hospitals and clinics
This project evaluated whether access to primary care is more effective at improving health outcomes and reducing costs in rural than urban markets, and identified the characteristics of communities which contribute to improved health outcomes and reducing preventable hospitalizations. This research informs policy relating funding access provision through public clinics to reduce the burden of uncompensated or under-compensated care on financially strained rural hospitals.
Status and Future of Health Care Delivery in Rural Wyoming
Research center:
Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder:
Wyoming Healthcare Commission
Topics:
Health services,
Rural statistics and demographics
An analysis of the delivery of health care services in rural Wyoming under contract to the Wyoming Healthcare Commission.
Unmet Needs for Health Care Services: An Analysis of Children with Special Health Care Needs in Rural Areas
Research center:
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Children,
Dental health,
Disabilities,
Health services
This project will study whether parents of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) who live in rural areas are less likely to perceive the need for routine and specialty medical care than their metropolitan counterparts, and whether CSHCN that live in rural areas face a greater risk of having unmet needs for health care services than their metropolitan counterparts.
Urban and Rural Differences in Access to Care and Treatment for Medicare Beneficiaries with Cancer
Research center:
ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics:
Chronic diseases and conditions,
Health services,
Medicare,
Quality
Little is known about the differences in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of care for cancer patients across urban and rural regions of the country. This study will extend our understanding of the challenge of providing high-quality cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries and how provider availability influences access to needed care in urban and rural areas.
Use and Effect on Patients of Disease Management in Rural Areas
Research center:
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic:
Health services
White Paper: Models for Meeting the Mental Health Needs of People Living in Rural Areas (Rural Mental Health)
Research center:
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Mental Health Services
Topics:
Health services,
Mental health
