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): $146,400
Major Accomplishments in FY 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September
30, 2006):
- Hosted a statewide Healthcare Workforce Summit, December 2006
attended by 160 participants, plus 50 state legislators.
- Facilitated the development of the (20 member) North Dakota
Health Information Technology Steering Committee and five work
groups (Communication/Education, Resources/Funding, Policy/Legislation,
Health Information Exchange and Privacy/Security)
- Sponsored statewide Health Information Technology Stakeholder
meeting
(40 participants)
- Facilitated the 21st, annual Dakota Conference on Rural and
Public Health
(257 participants and 54 exhibitors/sponsors)
- Awarded six grants for a total of $350,000 to support the implementation
of health information technology in rural health care facilities,
sponsored by BCBSND.
- Began using GIS maps to illustrate the impact of the Center
thought out rural ND.
SORH Contact Information: Lynette Dickson, Program Director
Office: Center for Rural Health,
University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Address: 501 N. Columbia Road, Stop 9037
Phone: 701.777.6049 or 701-777-3848
Fax: 701.777.6779
Email: ldickson@medicine.nodak.edu
Center Director: Dr. Mary Wakefield
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): $640,000
Program Highlights:
- Number of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) supported: 31
- Number of Critical Access-eligible Hospitals supported: 8
- Number of Rural Health Networks developed: 24
- Number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assisted: 12
- Number of Rural Communities assisted: 54
Major Accomplishments:
- Direct technical assistance provided to 20 CAHs (completed
2 community needs assessments, 3 strategic planning sessions,
13 hospital meetings, 3 community forums, 1 internal personnel
audit, two sets of key informant interviews, 7 grantwriting workshops
and facilitated 3 board meetings).
- 17 workshops held (474 participants); focus on nurse retention
and quality improvement: rural models that work; hospital finance,
quality assurance and others.
- 24 new networks supported; small grants to CAHs focusing on
program development, quality improvement, technology, workforce
and organizational development.
- 12 new EMS networks supported; focused on staff training and
development, technology, quality improvement, and workforce.
- QIO formally joins Flex Steering Committee
- Administered statewide QI conference of all rural hospitals
(90% response rate)
- Funded 4 small grants to CAHs and local schools to form networks
related to increasing awareness of children to health occupations.
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): $314,809
Program Highlights:
- Hospitals receiving funding: 33
- Hospitals in consortiums, networks or systems: 4 hospitals
in 1 consortium
- Hospitals using funds for QI and /or reduction of medical errors:
24 hospitals (38% of budget
- Hospitals using grant funds for Health Information Technology:
30 hospitals (58% of budget)
Major Accomplishments:
- 27 hospitals used funds to pay for costs associated with HIPAA
compliance which related to equipment purchases, education/training
and software. Outcomes included ensuring patient record confidentiality;
easier access to patient records; and increased staff competence.
- 24 hospitals used funds to pay for costs associated with medical
errors and quality improvement, mainly related to training/education
and equipment purchases. Outcomes included purchasing bar coders,
videos for staff education related to credentialing, and patient
safety; instruments that improved accuracy of detection; specific
pediatric equipment to improve quality care of children; and software
system that allows to guided help with criteria for levels of
care.
Total HRSA Funding (FY06): $1,101,209
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