The purpose of this project is to: 1) analyze recent data from nine geographically diverse states on delivery by rural women at non-local hospitals; 2) characterize the roles of medical vs. non-medical factors in delivery at a non-local hospital by identifying lower-risk and higher-risk women using established criteria; and 3) analyze the relationship between delivery at a non-local hospital and obstetric quality.

Publications

• Rural Women Delivering Babies in Non-Local Hospitals: Differences by Rurality and Insurance Status
  Policy Brief
  University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 06/2015
  This policy brief describes the extent to which rural pregnant women give birth in non-local hospitals and analyzes current patterns of non-local delivery by rural women's health insurance status and residential rurality.