A new study in the National Rural Health Association’s Journal of Rural Health finds rural primary care physicians are more likely to participate in quality improvement activities than their urban counterparts. According to Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, “Quality healthcare can be found in rural towns all across America. Rural primary care often faces significant challenges with equal or better patient outcomes. It’s time to start looking at what’s done right in rural.” 

A survey of 2,000 rural and urban family practitioners indicated that while rural communities may have fewer training options, rural primary care physicians are significantly more likely to participate in quality improvement activities. The study also found that rural physicians were more likely to agree that physicians should discuss the costs of care with their patients and to report having added Medicaid or uninsured patients during the preceding year.

The peer-reviewed article on the study can be found here (a subscription may be required).