Susie Gurzenda, MS

North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center

Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
725 MLK BLVD
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Publications - (10)

Publications - (10)

2024

The Low-Volume Hospital Adjustment Before and During COVID-19
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 07/2024
This brief uses current low-volume hospital adjustment qualifying criteria to compare low-volume hospitals to other rural hospitals and explores the effect of removing the adjustment before COVID-19 and during COVID.
Differences in Measurement of Operating Margin: An Update
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 05/2024
This study uses recent Medicare Cost Report data to compare rural and urban hospitals using the three definitions for operating margin. Researchers assess the distribution and extent of extreme values of operating margin.
COVID-19 Affected Rural and Urban Hospital Uncompensated Care
Fact Sheet
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 03/2024
The purpose of this infographic is to illustrate the impact COVID-19 had on uncompensated care and operating margin among rural and urban hospitals.
A Comparison of 2017-19 Uncompensated Care of Rural and Urban Hospitals by Net Patient Revenue, System Affiliation, and Ownership
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 01/2024
The purpose of this study is to better understand patterns of uncompensated care. It extends a 2018 study of geographic variation in uncompensated care between rural and urban hospitals. Specifically, researchers investigate the association of uncompensated care with net patient revenue, system affiliation, and ownership.

2023

Suitability of Low-Volume Rural Emergency Departments to New Rural Emergency Hospital Designation
Journal Article
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 09/2023
The Rural Emergency Hospital is a new Medicare payment model that requires hospitals to focus on emergency, observation, and outpatient services in lieu of inpatient care. This study's exploratory objective was to examine care delivery from eligible hospitals to assess their fit with the new payment model.
Rural Population Health in the United States: A Chartbook
Chartbook
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 02/2023
This chartbook uses a range of indicators to describe population health in rural America and document health disparities between rural and urban areas. This report includes 33 measures of population health, organized into five domains: Access to Care, Health Outcomes and Risks, Mortality, Social Determinants of Health, and Socioeconomics.

2022

Characteristics of Rural Hospitals Eligible for Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospitals and Three Rural Hospitals Considering Conversion
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 12/2022
This brief presents 2021 data for Rural Emergency Hospital (REH)-eligible hospitals, compares financial and operational measures of three rural hospitals that have expressed interest in REH conversion to all REH-eligible hospitals, and discusses what factors may ultimately determine the number of rural hospitals that convert to REH.
Key Considerations for a Rural Hospital Assessing Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 10/2022
Based on findings from a literature review and consultation with practitioners, a conceptual framework and checklist were developed to organize and guide conversations about key considerations for conversion to a Rural Emergency Hospital.
Small Rural Hospitals with Low-Volume Emergency Departments That May Convert to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH)
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 10/2022
This study profiles rural hospitals eligible to convert to Rural Emergency Hospitals. The objective is to characterize rural hospitals with very low emergency department volume to inform the clinical and operational decisions that will be required to implement this new provider model.
Rural Hospital Profitability During the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Requires Careful Interpretation
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 03/2022
Many small rural hospitals struggle with profitability compared to their urban counterparts. The findings brief describes the pre-pandemic (2011-19) trend of rural hospital profitability and explains why possible increases in reported profitability during the pandemic (2020-21) may mask the long-term financial challenges of rural hospitals.