Elizabeth Crouch, PhD

Deputy Director, Rural and Minority Health Research Center

Phone: 803.576.6055
Email: crouchel@mailbox.sc.edu

Health Services Policy and Management
University of South Carolina

Current Projects - (2)
Completed Projects - (1)
Publications - (16)

Current Projects - (2)

Rural-Urban Differences in Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences: Results from the National Survey of Children's Health
Using the 2016-2018 National Survey of Children's Health, the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) exposure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia will be examined and whether ACE and PCE exposure differs between rural and urban residents, by type, by count, and by racial/ethnic group.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Children and adolescents, Hispanics, Minority health, Social determinants of health
Rural-Urban Differences in Three Domains of Access to Health Care Services
This study proposes to leverage 2018 and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to examine rural-urban and racial/ethnic differences within rural in three domains of access to health care services (affordability, accommodation, and acceptability) that are less frequently examined in population-based surveys.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Minority health

Completed Projects - (1)

Promotion of Rural Health Research Center Attendance at Cancer-Related Meetings
This project will promote attendance at cancer-related meetings by Rural Health Research Centers by facilitating the dissemination of information regarding important cancer meetings and handling the travel arrangements for Rural Health Research Center personnel.
Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Topics: Cancer, Minority health

Publications - (16)

2021

Changes in Socioeconomic Mix and Health Outcomes in Rural Counties with Hospital Closures, 2005-2018
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 09/2021
This brief examines the trend of hospital closures between 2005 and 2018 across definitions of rurality. Social, economic, and health structure trends at the county level across the contiguous United States were the study's focus.
Trends in Cancer Treatment Service Availability Across Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2021
This study investigated trends in cancer services availability in urban and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Compared with all PPS hospitals, CAHs offered fewer cancer treatment services and experienced a decline in service capability over time.
The Intersection of Rural Residence and Minority Race/Ethnicity in Cancer Disparities in the United States
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 02/2021
This manuscript summarizes how racism and social determinants of health disproportionately affect rural racial/ethnic minorities, offers a review of the cancer disparities rural racial/ethnic minorities face, and recommends policy, research, and intervention to reduce these disparities.

2020

A National Survey of RN-to-BSN Programs: Are They Reaching Rural Students?
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 10/2020
This study used a national survey of RN-to-BSN programs to better understand their potential role in addressing disparities in BSN-prepared nurses in rural and urban areas. The results are needed to inform policymakers and stakeholders who are responsible for addressing the status and needs of nursing education.
Factors Associated with Perceived Job Preparedness Among RNs: Results From a National Survey
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 05/2020
This article examines perceived job preparedness by demographic and professional characteristics among practicing registered nurses who completed a national survey. Rural and male nurses felt less prepared for nursing practice and may benefit from tailored educational experiences to improve perceptions of being prepared for the workforce.
Rural-Urban Differences in Educational Attainment Among Registered Nurses: Implications for Achieving an 80% BSN Workforce
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 05/2020
Our primary objective was to provide updated information on rural-urban differences in educational attainment. We also examined rural-urban differences in employment type, salary, and demographics among registered nurses in different practice settings.
Travel Grant Program 2018-2019
Fact Sheet
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 01/2020
This project promoted attendance at cancer-related meetings by Rural Health Research Centers by facilitating the dissemination of information regarding important cancer meetings and handling the travel arrangements for Rural Health Research Center personnel.

2019

Geographic Disparities in Residential Proximity to Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Care Providers
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2019
Persistent rural‐urban disparities for colorectal and cervical cancers raise concerns regarding access to treatment providers. To the authors knowledge, little is known regarding rural‐urban differences in residential proximity to cancer specialists.

2018

Rural-Urban Differences in Hospital Payer Mix in 2017
Fact Sheet
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2018
This work revealed that rural hospitals heavily rely on Medicare.
Differences in Medicare Utilization and Expenditures in the Last Six Months of Life Among Patients with and without Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 10/2018
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in utilization of inpatient services and Medicare expenditures (overall and by category) in the last six months of life for patients with, versus those without, a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
The Importance of Rural Hospitals: Transfers and 30-day Readmissions Among Rural Residents and Patients Presenting at Rural Hospitals
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 07/2018
This study looked at reasons why transfers and readmissions occurred among Medicare patients who first came to rural hospitals.
Rural-Urban Differences in Costs of End-of-Life Care for the Last 6 Months of Life Among Patients with Breast, Lung, or Colorectal Cancer
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 04/2018
Our findings indicate that Medicare expenditures are lower for rural beneficiaries with each type of cancer than urban beneficiaries, even after adjusting for age, gender, race, dual eligibility, region, chronic conditions, and type of service utilization.

2017

Gender and Geographic Differences in Medicare Service Utilization During the Last Six Months of Life
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2017
End-of-life issues are important for senior women, particularly rural women, who are more likely than their urban counterparts to live alone. The role of residence has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine whether service utilization in the last six months of life differs across gender and rurality.
Supply-Side Differences Only Modestly Associated with Inpatient Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries in the Last Six Months of Life
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2017
This study examined rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries and inpatient hospitalizations during their last six months of life. The study concluded that care at the end of life is much the same for rural and urban Medicare decedents.
Differences in Medicare Service Use in the Last Six Months of Life Among Rural and Urban Dual – Eligible Beneficiaries
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2017
In this brief, we compare rural and urban dual-eligible beneficiaries to Medicare-only beneficiaries in their service utilization in the last six months of life. Within rural beneficiaries, we further explore differences associated with race/ethnicity.
Rural-Urban Differences in Medicare Service Use in the Last Six Months of Life
Report
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2017
This brief focuses on the current status of healthcare use during the last six months of life among Medicare beneficiaries. We used data from a sample of Medicare beneficiary claims to assess whether service utilization differed between rural and urban decedents and across decedents of different race/ethnicity categories.