Rural Surgical Quality: Policy and Practice

Abstract

Several national studies have demonstrated that rural hospitals successfully deliver high-quality care. Data at the national, regional, institutional, and individual practitioner levels all contribute to understanding of surgical outcomes in the rural setting. Quality metrics should be interpreted within the context of the rural community and outcomes analyzed with relevant risk adjustment for patient factors.

Keywords: Cancer outcomes; Patient selection; Quality collaborative; Quality improvement; Quality measures; Risk-adjustment; Rural surgery.