Title

Illinois Critical Access Hospitals: Enhancing Quality of Care in Rural Illinois

Authors

Melissa HenriksenFollow
Norman WalzerFollow

Files

Description

Critical access hospitals (CAHs) are essential to rural health care and play an important role in its delivery as a safety net for rural patients. While CAHs operate in a challenging environment, this report focuses on the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) and Illinois CAHs commitment to provide high quality health care despite limited resources, both financial and personnel. Illinois CAHs rank high on several nationally measured patient outcomes, patient satisfaction indicators, and provide a high value, affordable option for rural patients. They are also exploring "rural relevant" measures that consider the distinct characteristics of rural health care delivery, while continuing efforts to increase the number of CAHs reporting on all national measures, and prepare for upcoming required reporting. ICAHN and Illinois CAHs recognize that the effort to accomplish meaningful quality of care outcomes is major, but delivering effective care will benefit patients, hospitals, and the community as a whole.

Publication Date

4-1-2012

City

DeKalb

Keywords

rural communities, Illinois, critical access hospital, rural healthcare

Recommended Citation

Henriksen, Melissa and Walzer, Norman, "Illinois Critical Access Hospitals: Enhancing Quality of Care in Rural Illinois" (2012). Reports, Whitepapers, Articles, and Other Publications. 18.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/ctrgovernment-reports/18

Language

eng

Department

Center for Governmental Studies

Publisher

Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies