University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies Releases White Paper on Challenges of Critical Access Hospital Sustainability

Dr. Stephen Notaro details study findings on health care model approaches that contribute to resiliency for a sample size of 20 critical access hospitals

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies releases a new white paper, “Are Critical Access Hospitals in Critical Condition?,” authored by Stephen Notaro, Ph.D., instructor at the College and fellow of the Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research. The white paper presents study findings based on insights from the Career Optimism Index® study as well as data for 20 critical access hospitals in Illinois as a sample to explore the concern about closure of hospitals typically found in more rural communities and which might be the only health care access point for local populations.

There are just over 1,300 critical access hospitals (CAH) located throughout the U.S. which are often the only available 24-hour source of emergency services and which are the main provider of health care services to the 20% of the U.S. population that reside in rural areas.

“Critical access hospitals face unique challenges but are also a key economic hub in rural communities and a major source of employment,” states Notaro. “This study found that these hospitals are shifting to adapt toward financial sustainability accounting for the local population trends and a change in practice focus to outpatient services, with an overall improvement of financial indicators for these hospitals.”

The white paper describes how IRS Form 990s, census, and Illinois state public data sets were analyzed to provide insights on three main areas: local demographics, overall financial indicators, and assessing approaches to care as a focus on outpatient services would indicate a move away from complex surgery which requires physician specialists and expensive operating suites. The findings indicate that changes in practice pattern reflect actions by hospital leaders that are also contributing to workforce development and mobility.

Notaro teaches courses in research design, leadership theory, and serves on the Advancing Community, Critical Thinking, Scholarship, and Success (ACCESS) program and dissertation committees in the College of Doctoral Studies at University of Phoenix. He earned a Doctorate in healthcare policy and administration at University of Illinois, a master’s degree in public administration, and a bachelor’s degree in health administration. Notaro has 11 years of professional experience in health planning and health care consulting and 15 years of management experience.

The full whitepaper is available on the Research Hub or as a direct link here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

ABOUT THE CAREER OPTIMISM INDEX®

The Career Optimism Index® study is one of the most comprehensive studies of Americans' personal career perceptions to date. The University of Phoenix Career Institute will conduct this research annually to provide insights on current workforce trends and to help identify solutions to support and advance American careers and create equity in the workplace.

For the fourth annual study, fielded between December 5, 2023-January 2, 2024, surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. adults who either currently work or wish to be working on how they feel about their careers at this moment in time, including their concerns, their challenges, and the degree to which they are optimistic about their careers. The study was conducted among a nationally representative, sample of U.S. adults and includes additional analysis of the workforce in the top twenty DMA markets across the country to uncover geographic nuances. The study also explores insights from 501 U.S. employers to provide comparison between the workforce and those who hire, train, and retain them. Additionally, for the first time, a statistical modeling analysis was conducted to illustrate how employers and employees can benefit financially from investing in career optimism.

A full methodology can be found at www.phoenix.edu/career-institute.

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