State Offices of Rural Health Grant Program (SORH)

The goal of the State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) grant program is to assist States in strengthening rural health care delivery systems by creating a focal point for rural health within each State. The program provides an institutional framework that links small rural communities with State and Federal resources to help develop long term solutions to rural health problems. The SORH grant program features a single grantee from each of the 50 United States. The program is a Federal-State partnership that requires a State funding match of $3 for each $1 of Federal funding.

SORH Award Amount (FY06): $150,000

Major Accomplishments in FY 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006):

1. Monthly email of potential grant opportunities distributed to over 500 recipients.
2. 16 matching grants awarded totaling nearly $300,000
3. 5 TA proposal writing workshops / sessions held in rural AR communities.
4. Provided TA to existing rural health network, aiding them in receiving ORHP Rural Health Network Development grant funds
5. Initiated a new collaborating partnership with UAMS Center for Distance Health

SORH Contact Information:
Office: Arkansas Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
Address: 4815 W. Markham, Slot H-22 Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 501-661-2494
Fax: 501-280-4706
Email: Jacqueline.gorton@arkansas.gov
Director: William Rodgers

2) Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (Flex)

The Flex Program helps sustain access to high quality health care services in rural America. It facilitates the development and support of community-based collaborative rural delivery systems in all grantee States through conversion of hospitals to critical access status, development of rural healthcare networks and integration of EMS.

Flex Award (FY06): $500,576.00

Program Highlights:

• Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 28
• Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 6
• Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 6
• Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 14
• Number of Rural Communities assisted: 95

Major Accomplishments:

1. Five additional hospitals designated as CAH bringing state total to 28
2. Five networks successful in securing funding from various sources to enhance sustainability
3. Completed an EMS EMT/paramedic career survey designed to identify goals for long range educational planning for EMT
4. Quarterly reports issued to CAH to track performance of CMS core measures

3) Small Rural Hospital Performance Improvement Grant Program (SHIP)

The goal of SHIP is to assist small (less than 50 beds) rural hospitals pay for any or all of the following: 1) costs related to implementation of prospective payment systems, (2) compliance with provisions of HIPAA and 3) reduction of medical errors and quality improvement. State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) help eligible rural hospitals to participate in SHIP. Eligible hospitals submit an application to their SORH; the SORH prepares and submits a single grant application to HRSA on behalf of all hospital applicants in the State. There are approximately 1600 eligible hospitals nationwide and each usually receives approximately $9,000.
SHIP Award (FY06): $317,560.00

Program Highlights:

• Hospitals receiving funding: 32
• Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 5
• Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors: 29
• Hospitals using funds for Health Information Technology: 32

Major Accomplishments:

1. Three hospitals working as a consortium conducted a needs assessment and created quality assurance manuals for each hospital.
2. One hospital utilized funds for JCAHO quality initiative
3. One hospital utilized fund to implement AHCAPHS survey tool
4. One hospital utilized funds for a HIPAA Security Audit
   
   Total HRSA Funding (FY06): $968,136.00