Critical Access is a hospital designation given to eligible rural hospitals by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Surviving health care reform is a significant challenge for the 91 Critical Access Hospitals in Texas. Several CAHs nationwide have had to close their doors in recent years due to the changing health care environment, and the survival of these facilities will depend highly on their ability to improve quality outcomes. The Texas Hospital Association Foundation’s CAHQI initiative works in partnership with the Texas A&M Health Science Center Rural and Community Health Institute and is funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s State Office of Rural Health.
Previous learning opportunities recordings and resources:
2025 CNO Workshop Resources
Frontline First Webinar Series
Frontline First Webinar Series for Critical Access Hospitals
Frontline First Webinar Series!
This series of 4 webinars took place each Tuesday beginning July 29, 2025.
- July 29 – Patient Centered Care – Click here to watch the video. Presentation HERE
- August 5 – Basics of Improvement – Click here to watch the video. Presentation HERE
- August 12 – Becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO) – Click here to watch the video. Presentation HERE
- August 19 – Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare – Click here to watch the video – Presentation HERE
Click HERE to access the series playlist (all videos open in YouTube)
Core MBQIP Measures Webinar Recording
June 17, 2025 Recording HERE (opens in YouTube). PPT Presentation HERE
Policy and Procedure Virtual Learning Series
Quality Infrastructure Survey Report Review Webinar Recording
You rocked getting your infrastructure survey completed!! Now it is time to see how we stand. Join us as we go over the Texas report and discuss where we go from here. Recording HERE (opens in YouTube). PDF presentation HERE.
Understanding Changes to MBQIP – Meeting Series
Understanding Changes to MBQIP – Meeting Series
Series of meetings to discuss all upcoming changes for 2025 MBQIP reporting
June 18, 2024 – Series Kick-off: Click here to watch the video. Presentation: HERE
July 2, 2024 – Quality Improvement Infrastructure: Click here to watch the video. Presentation: HERE
July 16, 2024 – Hospital Commitment to Health Equity: Click here to watch the video. Presentation: HERE
July 30, 2024 – Hybrid All-Cause Readmissions: Click here to watch the video. Presentation: HERE
August 13, 2024 – Screening for Social Determinants of Health: Click here to watch the video. Presentation: HERE
August 27, 2024 – New Core Measures: Click here to watch the video. Presentation: HERE
Further Reading:
THA’s Comments on CMS Proposed Rule on Conditions of Participation (CoP) for Rural Emergency Hospitals and Critical Access Hospital CoP Updates
Interested in other opportunities and resources from the THAF QPS Programs? Click HERE for more information.
Additional CAHQI Resources:
- BOOTCAMP Resources: Check out the presentations from our 2024 Bootcamp.
- RQITA Resource Center Learn more about the Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance program and find various resources for Patient Safety measures and Quality Improvement specifically for rural healthcare organizations. This external link is provided by our partner Telligen located HERE
- Readmissions: This quality improvement resource is intended to be used by critical access hospital personnel involved in MBQIP and State Flex personnel: RQITA Resource: Hybrid Hospital-Wide Readmission Data Submission Guide Released June 2024, version 1.0
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number H54RH26521, Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program, $901,523 (0% financed with nongovernmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.