Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

Using Data to Define Rural Populations

This resource offers a step-by-step guide for developing a rural community baseline dataset, and identifies links to helpful resources and existing datasets, with the intent to help State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) focus on the demographics influencing health and the health needs of the rural communities within their state. Read more here.

Quantifying the Impact of the Rural Health Safety Net

This resource examines the vulnerability of 453 rural hospitals based on financial and operational metrics. It includes the Rural Vulnerability Study, infographics, and presentation slides on this analysis from the 2020 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. It also provides state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals. Find more information here.

Patient and Hospital Factors Associated With Unexpected Newborn Complications Among Term Neonates in US Hospitals

This article presents the results of a study to examine the rates of severe, unexpected complications in full term newborns in 576 hospitals from January 2015 – December 2017. It explores whether rates vary significantly among hospitals and looks at risk factors and possible causes of variation. It also features statistics on characteristics of mothers, hospitals, and delivery types, and median percentage of rural population in the counties where deliveries occurred. Read more here.

National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Washington, D.C., September 9-12, 2019

This resource summarizes the 86th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Washington, D.C. It presents an overview of national perspectives on several topics, including issues impacting rural children, youth, and families; the priorities of federal agencies regarding rural health; the implications of federal policy changes on rural providers; and challenges and opportunities affecting older rural Americans. It features perspectives from national stakeholder groups. Read more here.

How to Better Support Small Physician-led Accountable Care Organizations: Recent Program Updates, Challenges, and Policy Implications

This resource describes the strategies of successful small physician-led Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). It discusses how policy changes contribute to the opportunities and challenges for these ACOs. It also explores how “ACO Enablers” aid small ACOs in participating in risk-bearing models. It includes a brief discussion of how the ACO Investment Model program supported ACOs in rural and underserved areas with access to capital. Read more here.

Head Start Program Transportation in Rural Areas

This resource discusses the role of transportation in Head Start programs and provides planning and implementation information. It includes information on funding and training, and provides several case studies of Head Start programs that provide transportation. Find more information here.