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):
- Sponsored the Annual Rural Health Summit in partnership with
the Florida Rural Health Association (FRHA)
- Awarded funds to the Rural Health Networks to assess, determine,
and report on telecommunication services or lack thereof throughout
their network area
- Provided hospital board training materials
- Provided clinical diagnostic computer software
- Provided strategic performance improvement and planning grants
- Provided community needs assessment grants
- Monitored (on-site) the statutory rural hospitals in regards
to SHIP and state-funded capital improvement projects/activities
- Monitored (on-site) the certified rural health networks
- Traveled to communities to provide technical assistance
SORH Contact Information:
Office: Florida Office of Rural
Health
Address: 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C15, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1735
Phone: 850-414-4144 x2706
Fax: 850-414-6470
Director: Susan J. Gay
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): $502,000
Program Highlights:
- Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 11
- Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 2
- Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 11
- Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 42
- Number of Rural Communities assisted: 33
Major Accomplishments:
- Funded a quality improvement program with Florida’s Medicare
Quality Improvement Organization to assist eleven critical access
hospitals improve medication and patient safety
- Provided $229,440 in subgrants to eleven critical access hospitals
and five rural health networks to improve hospital performance
and quality, and health services for rural residents
- Sponsored an annual financial and performance improvement workshop
for critical access hospitals
- Provided subgrants to five rural county health departments
to assess health needs and identify local priorities
- Provided $20,000 in funding to the Florida’s statewide
rural emergency medical services network to support scholarships
for paramedics and emergency medical technicians in rural counties
- Funded internet based clinical diagnostic support software
for five critical access hospital emergency departments
- Assisted two rural counties with efforts to pass a local option
sales tax referendum to support the construction of a replacement
hospital
- Assisted one critical access hospital with obtaining a low
interest rural community development loan
- Worked with rural and other partners to prepare an application
for the Federal Communications Commission rural broadband pilot
project that was awarded $9.1 million
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): $177,460
Program Highlights:
- Hospitals receiving funding: 19
- Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 5
- Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors:
15
- Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology:
15
Major Accomplishments:
- Monitored (on-site) all of the SHIP hospitals
- Worked with a consortium of three hospitals
- Set timelines and application process for hospitals to improve
accountability
Total HRSA Funding (FY06): $829,460
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