Rural hospitals equal in outcomes, ahead in ED care

Rural hospitals are equal to their urban counterparts in care quality, patient safety and outcomes, and their emergency departments (EDs) are more efficient and less expensive, according to a new study by iVantage Health Analytics.
"Acknowledging that not all care is equal, and that complex care cases are appropriately referred to tertiary care centers, the findings of the 2014 Rural Relevance Study challenges the notion that rural hospitals are: more costly, more inefficient and maintain lower quality and satisfaction," the study states. "Importantly, as the industry seeks to address the new healthcare through innovative delivery models, the achievements of rural healthcare must be recognized as a key component for integration into broader strategies for patient-centered care under the Affordable Care Act."  Read More