Gestur Davidson, PhD

Completed Projects - (1)

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.
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Hospitals and clinics, Quality, Workforce

Nurse Staffing and Rural Hospital Performance
Policy Brief
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2010
This policy brief examines the impact of nurse staffing on rural hospital performance improvement in the CMS/Premier Inc. Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration project.
Patient Assessments and Quality of Care in Rural Hospitals
Policy Brief
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2010
This policy brief analyzes the relationships between rural patients' perspectives of hospital quality of care and key hospital characteristics that may influence patients' experiences of hospital care.
Patient Assessments and Quality of Care in Rural Hospitals (Final Report)
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2010
This report analyzes the relationships between rural patients' perspectives of hospital quality of care and key hospital characteristics that may influence patients' experiences. It assesses whether rural patients' perspectives of quality of care are related to quality measures focused on the provision of recommended care for medical conditions.

The Impact of Health Insurance Coverage on Native Elder Health: Implications for Addressing the Health Care Needs of Rural Native American Elders
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2007
This study examines health insurance coverage and access to healthcare among American Indian and Alaska Native elders, defined as 55 years or older. 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.
Ambulatory Care Sensitive Condition Hospitalizations Among Rural Children (Brief)
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2007
This brief reports results from a study examining children's inpatient hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions, rural residence, poverty, health insurance, and physician supply. Admission rates were examined for asthma, diabetes short-term complications, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, and perforated appendix.
Hospital Size, Uncertainty and Pay-for-Performance
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2007
This report examines whether hospital size impacts the ability to identify hospitals' performance in a pay-for-performance demonstration project based on hospital rankings.

Pharmacist Staffing, Technology Use and Implementation of Medication Safety Practices in Rural Hospitals
Journal Article
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2006
Reports the capacity of small rural hospitals to implement medication safety practices, with a focus on pharmacist staffing and the availability of technology.

Pharmacist Staffing and the Use of Technology in Small Rural Hospitals: Implications for Medication Safety (Full Report)
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2005
This study's results show that many small rural hospitals have limited hours of onsite pharmacist coverage and a significant number don't have a pharmacy computer or don't use one for clinical purposes. Implementation of protocols related to medication use and key medication safety practices are areas where small rural hospitals could improve.

Access to Dental Care for Rural Low Income and Minority Populations
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 09/2004
Using data from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey, this study examines the relationships between rural residence, income, race/ethnicity, and access to dental care.
The Financial Benefits of Critical Access Hospital Conversion for FY 1999 and FY 2000 Converters
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2004
This paper discusses the impact of conversion to critical access hospital (CAH) status on the financial condition of rural hospitals one and two years after conversion. CAHs pre- and post-conversion revenues are compared, and CAH revenues are compared to small rural hospitals that did not convert to cost-based Medicare reimbursement.

Are There Geographic Disparities in Out-of-Pocket Spending by Medicare Beneficiaries?
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2003
This paper describes a study comparing out-of-pocket spending among rural and urban Medicare recipients. It includes data on differences based on supplemental insurance coverage.
Rural Hospitals: New Millennium and New Challenges
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2003
This report discusses the changes in rural hospitals that took place in the decade of the 1990s and discusses some of the challenges that face rural hospitals in 2003. It includes discussion of rural hospitals' organizational structures, health service provision, payment/reimbursement, and financial performance.
The Financial Effects of Critical Access Hospital Conversion
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2003
This paper describes how the first wave of conversions to critical access hospital status affected rural hospitals' financial performances and organizational structures.
Rate of Return on Capital Investments at Small Rural Hospitals
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2003
This paper examines whether the aging of rural facilities is due to a lower rate of return on capital investment at these hospitals. This paper also investigates whether membership in a hospital system improves access to capital and results in the updating of buildings and equipment.