I study how rural populations are affected by the quality and availability of health care in rural areas. My research has examined the impact of rural hospital closure on patient health outcomes, the effect of Medicaid expansion on access to obstetric services, and whether under-resourced, rural oncology clinics are able to adopt new drugs that improve patient survival. A goal of my research is to improve our understanding of how policy can support health care and health in rural communities.
Caitlin Carroll is a health economist at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She received her PhD from Harvard University. Dr. Carroll’s work centers on the productivity of health care providers. She leverages quasi-experimental methods and economic theory to understand the appropriate role for policy in promoting efficiency in health care markets. Dr. Carroll’s current projects are focused on the industrial organization of rural health care, financial incentives for health care providers, and maternal health.