Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39734717›Full record

ReviewClinics in colon and rectal surgery2025

Overcoming Geographic Barriers: Surgical Care in Rural Populations.

Sara L Schaefer, Andrew M Ibrahim

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Clinics in colon and rectal surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Australian Rural Surgical Workforce: A Policy Analysis.The Australian journal of rural health · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Sara L SchaeferCenter for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Andrew M IbrahimCenter for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Funding

Interdisciplinary Research Training Center in Cancer Care DeliveryT32CA236621 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Lauren P Wallner · 2020 to 2026
$2.8M
Insurance Coverage and Workforce Incentives to Improve Access to Surgical CareR01DK137466 · NIDDK · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Andrew Mounir Ibrahim, Jonathan William Scott · 2023 to 2026
$1.5M
AHRQ HHS R01 HS028606AHRQ HHS R18 HS028963NCI NIH HHS T32 CA236621NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK137466
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This chapter examines the challenges rural Americans face in accessing surgical care, which is characterized by geographical barriers, a decreasing surgical workforce, and unique patient factors. The widening health care disparity between rural and urban residents highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to improve surgical care delivery to rural areas. Focusing on colorectal care delivery, encompassing the spectrum of common and complex care, exemplifies opportunities to optimize care delivery for rural populations. Here, we discuss the complex and unique interplay of challenges within rural hospital infrastructure, workforce shortages, and patient factors emphasizing financial strain, closure of rural hospitals, and limited access to specialty providers and resources. Current evidence focuses on volume-outcome relationships, the safety of common surgical care at rural hospitals, and the impact of rural hospitals joining larger health systems. Strategies to optimize care delivery include site-of-care optimization, improved care coordination, dissemination of specialty expertise, and policy programs to support the rural workforce. Recent federal policies, including the rural emergency hospital program, underscore the delicate balance between sustaining essential local health care services and the financial realities of rural health care delivery. We then conclude with evidence-based strategies to bridge the urban-rural health care gap, ensuring equitable access to high-quality surgical care regardless of geographic location.

Indexed as

access to carecolorectal surgeryrural

Identifiers

PMID39734717
PMCPMC11679254

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.