Health Policy & Management research influences policy and improves health outcomes across the globe.

The Impact of Health Policy & Management Research

Examining Profitability Decline in Rural Hospitals

As the financial distress of rural hospitals increases, access to healthcare is under threat for rural Americans. A study authored by Caitlin Carroll shows that  almost one-quarter of unprofitable hospitals closed or merged over eight years and underscores the need for policy makers to consider how to promote access and limit market power in rural areas

Assessing the U.S. Public Health Force

In a mass exodus accelerated by the pandemic, nearly half of all employees in state and local governmental public health agencies across the U.S. left their jobs between 2017 and 2021. A new study finds that if this rate of employee departures continues, more than half of the nation’s entire public health workforce could leave their organizations by 2025. Lead author and director the SPH Center for Public Health Systems JP Leider suggests several policies and interventions to recruit and retain workers.

Tracking Ransomeware Attacks on U.S. Healthcare Systems

A study led by Hannah Neprash shows that the annual number of ransomware attacks on healthcare provider organizations more than doubled from 2016 to 2021, exposing the personal health information of nearly 42 million individuals. As health care delivery organizations have increased their reliance on information technology to serve their patients, they have also increased their potential exposure to cybersecurity risks. The study suggests that as policymakers craft legislation aimed at countering the threat of ransomware across multiple industries, they should consider the specific needs of health care delivery organizations and the potentially harmful consequences on patient care.

Research Collaborations and Partnerships

• Minnesota Learning Health System Mentored Career Development Program (MN-LHS)
• Program in Health Disparities Research: Child Obesity Prevention

About Health Services Research

Health services research is a multidisciplinary field that looks at how social, financial, and organizational entities affect access to and quality of health care.

• Visit the National Library of Medicine portal for Health Services Research & Public Health Information programs.
• Visit the NLM’s HSR Information Central for links to the many different types of health services research