Date of Award

Summer 8-11-2023

Embargo Period

8-11-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

Department

Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Kit N. Simpson

Second Advisor

Jillian Harvey

Third Advisor

Annie Simpson

Fourth Advisor

Leslie Anderson

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the healthcare system, particularly for nursing homes. In this study, the impact of the acute 2022 epidemic on the closure of nursing homes in rural Texas was examined. The objective was to identify the factors that contributed to the closure of these nursing homes during the epidemic which eventually led to limited bed availability and closures over an 11-month period. Data was collected on the number of nursing homes that closed, their location, and the reasons for closure. The target. Criteria for measuring adequate bed availability was Based on review of literature used; 30 beds per 1,000 residents age 65+ in a county as our “benchmark” for being underserved regarding nursing home access.

Results show that the closure of nursing homes in rural Texas during the 2022 epidemic was primarily driven by financial challenges. Many nursing homes were unable to secure adequate funding to cover the increased costs associated with the epidemic. Furthermore, the finding indicates that state systems to monitor patient access to nursing home care are notable to provide timely warnings to policy makers on severe shortages that are emerging.

In conclusion, the acute 2022 epidemic had a profound impact on the closure of nursing homes in rural Texas, primarily due to financial challenges. My findings suggest that policymakers and healthcare providers should prioritize measures to ensure the financial stability of nursing homes during epidemics followed by clear, prompt and concise data reporting within rural healthcare settings

Rights

Copyright is held by the author. All rights reserved.

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