Critical access hospitals: rural nursing issues.
Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are a recent federal initiative to address the fiscal concerns of small rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare for rural residents. A national effort exists to examine the outcomes of this federal initiative, but there is a paucity of information about nursing in CAHs. This pilot study, using survey techniques, examined rural nurses' perceptions of CAH conversion. The authors discuss the authorizing legislation, Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (MRHFP), and highlight survey findings on nurses' perceptions about hospitals that converted to CAH status. The information can be used by nursing administrators and educators to prepare nurses to work in CAHs that are located in more remote areas of the United States.
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University of Central Florida, School of Nursing-Daytona Beach Campus, Florida, USA.
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D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003256:Community Participation; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D006754:Hospital Restructuring; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D006278:Medicare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009313:National Health Programs; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014481:United States